Rest in Him

Sometimes I find it hard to really rest.  Have you ever felt like that?
My mind is constantly in motion, thinking of everything I want to do and especially everything I need to do.  Right now it's a variety of cleaning and organizing projects that I want to get done, and every time I sit down that what I'm thinking about: I could be cleaning out the cupboards right now.

My friend Sara and I were talking about this just yesterday, in anticipation of the upcoming school year.  Both of us have a bad habit of over-scheduling ourselves and then we get to busy with the things we have to do that we don't have as much time for the things we want to do--especially rest.

"Sleep is overrated," we say jokingly, but sadly enough, we often believe it.

It's one thing to rest my body, but it can be so much harder to rest my mind.  Even when I'm not doing things, I'm thinking about things, and stressing about finances, future, scheduling, meal planning!

This weekend we're going on a short getaway for our anniversary.  I know how important it is to take time to get away, to focus on our marriage and our friendship, to just spend some time out of the house.  We've done this a few times in the last year, one of them being on our Thanksgiving trip to see family.  Another time was during Christmas break, when we escaped to a cute little bed-and-breakfast just a couple blocks from home!

My sweet husband reminded me yesterday that sometimes I need to rest my mind, too--clear my head, not think about things that cause me stress, and to focus on the good things, instead.  I know that when I think about everything that God does for me, it's much harder to be worried, stressed and anxious.  Blessings cancel out stress and worry.

Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience posted a link to this prayer today.  The sentence that hit me the hardest was this:

"Help me live this day at the pace of grace—no faster or slower."

 The pace of grace.  I love that.  I take it to mean that we should make the most of each moment, and take each moment as it comes.  We shouldn't spend so much time focusing on the past or the future, but on how God is showing his grace to us in every hour, every minute.

God is eternal.  He is past, present, and future.

We're not.

When I focus on what God is blessing me with--in every moment of every day--worry has no room to be in this busy head of mine.

I can rest in Him.

My soul finds rest in God alone,

my salvation comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Psalm 62:1-2

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