Make Room for Rest
August has arrived. Fall schedules are being built, considered, analyzed and updated. In the midst of your beautiful, busy life, may I urge you to make room for Rest? There are so many physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits to the God-created idea of Rest! Several years ago, I began to study this concept as it applied to my life and why I struggled with it so much. I’m sharing some of my notes here in the hopes that it will help you, too.
I have been inspired by the book Rhythms of Rest by Shelly Miller. Highly recommend owning a copy!
Let me begin by acknowledging my need of rest that wrestles with my need to be productive. There is a progression of choices I make to prioritize what is most important. I have often prioritized the comfort of my husband and children over my need to Rest in Jesus. I am so good at making lists and checking things off that I forget my relationship with God comes first.
Here’s the big question: But what about productivity? We must be productive! Therefore, I must find a way to balance productivity and rest that leads to life. This can be very difficult because our society puts such a high value on our level of productivity, and frankly, so do I! Then I realized that I was believing some lies, that seemed so normal, I couldn’t believe how twisted my thinking had become.
3 Lies we believe in the name of being Producers:
I AM WHAT I HAVE,
I AM WHAT I DO,
I AM WHAT OTHERS SAY/THINK ABOUT ME
Dear Friend, being a Producer does NOT get us closer to God.
Pride hinders. Pride is at the root of all those lies I have believed. My value is not rooted in what I do or don’t do.
Yes, I am my own worst critic. I see all the possibilities of the things I can or should do, the things I haven’t done, and I have very high expectations. (I’m not saying that isn’t a worthy goal to have high expectations!) BUT…. Unmet expectations lead to disappointments and discouragement.
Once we have confronted these lies in our lives, how do we move on?
Be realistic. What can you accomplish in a day or a week? Know yourself, your week, your schedule. It’s ok to have expectations of a semi- clean home, clean laundry and food on the table! But leave room for REST.
We can work on habits for ourselves and our children to help us be more productive in a given time. Do you have good habits? Do your kids obey? Do you obey? Has the lord told you to add or delete something from your life or schedule?
Christians aren’t called to sit around and do nothing. We are to be actively engaged in building God’s Kingdom, which means being in relationships and working with others, working through our sin issues and helping others. AND we are commanded to take time away. The Lord knows us and has already provided what we need.
PRIORITIZE REST TO BE PRODUCTIVE
Jesus walked and talked and ate and healed and was exhausted. And then he went away to be alone. To be quiet. To listen to His father. He was obedient. He worked. He rested.
Why do moms have this mini martyr complex that our little worlds will fall apart if we aren’t there to control the chaos or to stay one step ahead?
When people would quote that poem about not worrying about the dusty house and dirty dishes, I always groan internally. I don’t want to live in a dirty house. I don’t want to live in chaos. I have specific goals for my family’s health and wellness, for the use of our resources. That involves work.
So home is also a place where we work together and then we stop so we can rest.
I am all about freezer meals, gardening, food preservation, livestock raising, cooking meals every day, reading, walking, getting exercise, participating in church, ministering to others, helping a good cause. I believe. And because I believe, I do. I’m faithful to keep my commitments. Even when it hurts.
I have been the queen of productivity at the expense of rest and peace and joy.
Overcommitted me yelling at my kids to get them to hurry, hurry, hurry. A chunk of their lives we were rushing from one thing to another.
Then comes in that martyr complex. Woe is me. I work all the time. No one helps. I don’t have enough help. My life is soooo hard.
“Most of us have believed the fallacy of world advertisers: Achieve, Produce & Earn Success in order to Gain Acceptance, love & ultimate happiness.” Shelly Miller
OVERCOMMITMENT DOES NOT LEAD TO PEACE. It is just people pleasing. It’s choosing to do things for the wrong reasons like pride, insecurity, and an inability to say no.
Peace with God is obedience to God. Obedience is an act of Love. Doing His will leads to joy. My will leads to chaos and misery. Maybe we have left behind what God has told us to do. Maybe we have prioritized our own stuff. Being a Christian is about giving up the right to ourselves. This does not mean giving up REST, which is a command. Rest must be prioritized so that Work and Productivity does not become our identity.
What prevents me from following the will of God? Is it my spouse, children, family, friends, life circumstances? No.
Only my will prevents me. Choice is powerful. Choose wisely!