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Do you have a rhythm of rest? Living in today’s hustle culture makes slowing down feel like laziness, but most times, you can do more rested than you ever could when worn out.

It’s especially hard to put down your work when you’ve built your identity on being productive. Taking a moment to rest may feel like failure if you’re used to being praised for all the things you say yes to. But when you’re running on fumes and starting to feel resentment towards the people placing demands on your time, it’s a good sign that rest may be best for you in this season.

Now, don’t get me wrong, there are seasons when you may have a greater capacity for climbing the corporate ladder or showing up for all of the events. However, if you feel overwhelmed with all you have to do before your day gets going, allow me to offer you some guidance for prioritizing rest in your life.

 

You have a right to rest

Do you feel like rest is something you have to earn? You may tell yourself, “once I clean the house, then I can relax,” or “I don’t deserve to take a nap until I meet everyone else’s needs.” The trouble with this mindset is that you’ll never feel worthy of rest until you check off the next thing, but what happens when your list never ends? Might I suggest that the burned-out version of yourself is not serving anyone? Sure, you may get some things done, but after a while, the exhaustion and frustration in your body will spill over into the things you say and do. 

Rest is possible, even in busy seasons

True rest goes beyond catching up on sleep, although that’s a major part of it. However, you can’t fully find rest until you let go of everything you’re afraid to release. You’re not weak or a failure for releasing things that you no longer have the capacity for. Some things aren’t a “no,” just a “not right now.” Maybe you can take on that leadership role at church once your children aren’t so little anymore. Maybe you can have a spotless home when you’re no longer the primary caregiver for a loved one. Give yourself the grace to do what you can, ask for help when you need it, and let God handle the rest.

Let God’s Word be your reminder that, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

Rest reveals God’s plans for your life

In an effort to move the needle forward, it can be tempting to jump ahead of God and His timing for your life. Even with the best of intentions, you can find yourself missing out on the blessing of right now because of a need to reach the finish line. But what if God is trying to reveal some things to you about your life and those around you, if only you would sit still long enough to truly hear from Him? You might just be standing in the way of the new thing He’s trying to do in your life. When you begin to shift your focus from all the things weighing you down, that’s when you can begin to know Jesus on a deeper level.

As you begin to find moments of rest, hold on to this Scripture: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Learning to trust in God is a process, but it’s so necessary if you want to live a peaceful and abundant life. Even when you don’t see a way out of the daily pressure to be productive, you can rest assured that in the still moments, God will give you clarity on what to care about.

And my friend, you deserve to rest. 

 

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Replacing busyness with being still
  • Finding identity outside of accomplishments
  • Placing confidence in God

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Let’s Talk!

  1. How can you best prioritize rest in this season of your life?
  2. What would change in your life if you trusted God with your today and your tomorrow?
  3. Is there anything that God is telling you to release for a peaceful life?

 

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