Rest

Maybe you are like me and find yourself overwhelmed with the crazy “to do” list that only seems to grow. You look at your list and there is not much you can take off of it. There’s the list for the work that pays your bills, there’s the list for the dream that’s going to replace the work that pays your bills, there’s the list for the spouse, the house, the family, your health, your spiritual life, etc. It just goes on and on.

 Then there are the interruptions. O.M.G. Those interruptions, because you know, what is on your list must wait because a fire just burst out in front of you and you are the only one who can put it out. Or it’s the virus scan, the windows update or the unstable internet connection and now everything you are trying to do just takes twice as long to complete and you didn’t have enough time to get it done with everything going right.

The phone rings, you see the email notification and it’s your friend, your sister, mom or dad that needs to speak with you now. When you finally get back to the list and take a deep breath, the spouse who is now feeling neglected needs your attention.

 This literally described every day of my life for as long as I can remember. I would get so overwhelmed and frustrated I would begin to resent those closest to me. I would see everyone and everything as an interruption to my life, my goals, my future, my dreams.

 It was a day like this where I found myself waving the white flag, giving up what I was I working on and sent my cranky self to my room. There I began to tell God how I really felt. I was so mad, frustrated, discouraged. He simply stated, “I’m going to teach you about rest.”

 Then God brought something to mind. I remembered hearing that the Jewish day actually started in the evening. Then I recalled someone linking that to Creation. My thoughts trailed to my morning routine which we all know should start with “me and God” time. Then I asked the question, “When did God and Adam spend time together?” The answer - the cool of the day, the evening.

 As I pondered this I could see where God was going. If my day was supposed to start in the evening then I would actually be starting my day with God in the evening and then going to bed. This means I would be starting my day at rest.

God didn’t say anymore to me that night. I went to sleep as if that was the start of my day. All the next day I felt a peace that I had not felt in a long time, if ever.

 I did not change my schedule, I did not start a new routine, and I got busier. But, I did change my mindset. I changed my belief that my day started in the morning when I woke up to believing that my day started when I went to bed at night.

 Now, almost eight weeks later with no change other than when my day starts I am more at rest now than I have ever been in my life. I still have an occasional overwhelm moment but it is fleeting. Most days I am at peace. I don’t get everything on my list done, I have more on my list to do. But, it doesn’t bother me. I am more in tune with the flow of the Holy Spirit and what God wants to show me today. I am more relational and don’t get impatient when others need my time.  

I am ok to let go of my “to do” because I am at peace within and at rest. I can actually imagine what it would be like to sleep in the boat with Jesus and not worry about the raging storm.

 This lesson has caused me to ask a question. What else have we turned upside down and gotten backwards, that if we understood fully God’s original intent, we would have more peace, more faith and see more transformation in our own lives and the lives of those around us.

 So, if you are feeling overwhelmed, burned out and weary, try starting your day from a place of rest. It might just change your life like it has changed mine.