I don’t know how to rest. I just wasn’t wired to feel 100% okay with being totally unproductive. I’m in my 30s and it’s something I’m having to learn.
The gift of rest.
God created us with a heart for productivity. But, God also created us with limitations and His heart for us is to rest so that we can use the gifts He’s given us to the best of our ability.
I tend to push myself until I’m completed drained. I know that isn’t a hard thing to do in motherhood, but I get to the point where I’m so completely useless and my attitude is anything but positive because I’m over-doing and over-committing.
If I start deep cleaning one thing in my house you better watch out because everything will be clean by the end of the day. If I’m sitting down to “relax” at the end of the night, you better believe I’m folding a load of laundry. Sometimes I’m scrolling Pinterest so I can meal plan for the week ahead or get ideas on the next house project I have planned. I have a hard time sitting down at lunch with my kids because I’m washing dishes, cleaning up or making a grocery list. My mind is always running and I’m always going from one thing to the next.
I’m realizing something big and that is: I’m missing God when I’m not taking time to slow down. I’m missing his gentle whisper when I’m so busy doing all of the things. I’m missing the beauty in his creation. I’m missing the opportunity to think. I’m missing a gift that he has given because I’m not making time for it. There’s not a lot of rest in the season of motherhood, but when I don’t take the little bits of time that are available to give my mind rest and my ears some quiet, I start feeling it. I become weary, easily frustrated with my kids and my husband, overwhelmed and just not fun to be around. I don’t want to operate this way. If I take some time throughout the day to rest in Him I can more easily get through the day feeling full and refreshed, even when I am exhausted.
Resting looks different for everyone. For me, it might be reading or listening to a podcast. Sitting outside and enjoying the warm sunshine on my face. Unplugging from my phone and listening to the giggles from my sweet girls in the next room. Turning off Netflix and snuggling up with my husband the way that we used to before life got so busy. Opening my Bible in the wee hours of the morning with a hot cup of coffee. Taking a walk by myself and spending that time talking to the Lord. Sometimes it’s journaling, or let’s be real, sitting in a parked car by myself.
The reminder I need to give myself is this: There will always be something that needs to be done, but it’s important that we step away from the noise and take time to just be.
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