My brain is so very thankful today for the message God gave me to share at She Speaks Sunday. It was called “Come to Me” and the main point was that God wants to give us the gift of rest, yet we get so busy that we forget to receive that gift. (Matthew 11:28-29)
Why is my brain happy about that message? Because it’s a really tired brain today and it’s holding me to the fact that I need to “rest.”
Rest does not come naturally for most of us. We were created for it but we forget that we need it. My friend Karen shared the most amazing verse with me about rest on Sunday morning right before I was going to speak. It’s from Jeremiah 50:
4 “In those days, at that time,” declares the LORD, “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the LORD their God.
5 They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.
6 “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place.
Have we forgotten our resting place? I believe we have. At least I know I do.
I am definitely not a “resting” kind of girl. In fact, I’m such a doer it’s kinda scary. Like the time I was trying to “rest” but felt so restless that I decided to go for a walk. When I got back I realized that in all of my inability to rest, I accidentally took my dogs medicine instead of mine.
So what did “rest” look like for me today? Well after sleeping in, my friend Cris and I drove over to meet Lysa and Holly to go running. Doesn’t sound restful does it? But it is for me because my brain has the hardest time resting and running doesn’t require me to think. Plus it was a great way to keep myself off the computer where work begins and rest ends.
I also loved easing back into life by spending over an hour with my girlfriends sharing our favorite She Speaks memories and moments. Holly even cooked us all poached eggs after we ran. Afterwards, Cris and I picked up my boys and headed to the P31 office to help unload the She Speaks Uhaul with the other P31 team and kids. Still doesn’t sound restful? Call me crazy, but it was. We laughed, we talked and just enjoyed sweating and being together.
The biggest lesson for me has been that resting comes in many different forms. Sometimes rest means I need to sit still and do nothing. But not always. Often rest comes when I stop my mind from being active with plans and deadlines, but making myself be active physically with family and friends. The physical activity distracts me from the restlessness I fall into in my thoughts.
So, how do we know what rest looks like each day? It really all depends. I’ve got to ask the One who calls Himself my “resting place.” I have to start my day sitting in His presence and listening to His lead. Sometimes it looks really spiritual with me sitting in a chair reading my Bible and journaling. Other days it looks more like me laying in my bed asking Him to be my first thought, my first breath, my first desire.
Sometimes it’s just me giving Him my plans and being willing to not make any of my own – on days when I have optional white space. On days like today, He nudges my heart to go with the flow and follow where He leads me – to a place of rest. A place of rest that may not even look restful to others but for my heart it just the “resting place” this non-stop thinking girl needs to be.
So what does rest look like for you?
If you were at She Speaks, I’d love to hear what rest is going to look like for you this week as you return from the conference and begin to process all that God wants to give you. Share with me in the comments and I’ll be praying for you.
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I rest at meal times. I'll turn on the radio and listen to the news during breakfast and lunch. My 13-year-old and I have gotten in the habit of watching a movie while we dinner (my husband works most evenings so we use this time as a chance to just "be").
Because I'm always anxious to get back to work, I usually only watch about 30 minutes of the movie, but it does my brain good.
I also read several devotionals and blogs in the morning and a couple of devotionals and a chapter out of the Bible before bed (I'm in the Psalms), and journal. I also like to read, but I don't always get a chance to because sometimes I have too much to say in my journaling, and sometimes I'm just too tired to keep my eyes open.
Hi! I was blessed to attend the conference and I am thankful! Your message on Sunday was perfectly fit for preparing me to go back home.
I did not return to my home until Monday and instead of immediately e-mailing manuscripts or putting all that you all taught us into practice, I remembered to rest and not to forget my ministry that I had before I left, Anton, Eyanna, Cailem and Jaslyn, my husband and children!
Thank you Renee!
smooches,
Larie
I cannot even tell you how your message impacted me on Sunday morning. I am such a "doer" as well. I wear myself out on a regular basis. I don't even think I knew how badly I needed rest, until I listened to you on Sunday. Then, when we came to the cross to pick up our verse, God affirmed that He wanted me to rest. The verse I picked up was Isaiah 30:15 "In repentance and rest is your salvation. In quietness and trust is your strength." This was one of the first verses that spoke to me when I first began my Christian walk. I knew it was His word for me. It is one of my absolute favorite verses.
All that being said, rest did not really come until today. I was able to get up this morning and go for a run also. I am new to running and never would have thought I would enjoy it. But when I go out for a run with some amazing worship music on my iPod, my mind rests. I find fellowship with my God. I find peace. I find freedom from computers and cell phones and laundry and endless to do lists. I find rest. I found rest in Him today while running and praising Him.
Thank you so much for your message. I needed to hear it!
I am so glad to see that all went so well at the conference!!! 🙂 And I love how you say that you can rest even when your body may be physically busy. That was me over the weekend. I went on vacation with my family, including my mom and my brother, and it was so restful. No wireless meant no computer…which was a good thing! (I was only able to actually read my e-mail once…and that was to read your prayer request! I was praying!) 🙂
Anyways…sweet blessings to you as you rest in Him!
Oh, and I love how you were just what Lisa needed when she was feeling overlooked. You have been a similar sweet encouragement like that to me before, too. 🙂
Love to you!
K
WOW!!! When I think about this past weekend, that is the only word that comes to mind. REST, REST, REST is the message I heard and it was the cry of my heart before I came to the conference. In fact, I was so exhausted by the time I got there on Thursday night, I had even said to my roommates that if I did not get some rest, I was not even going to be able to function at the conference. Rest is something that I have not allowed myself to do because I feel that I have to do it "ALL" in order to be loved and accepted and yet our Lord loves me unconditionally and He wants me to rest so that I can be His hands and feet in ministry. It was a great Word my friend and such a needed message for my life. Thanks for all that you do behind the scenes and for your heart for women. It definitely shows in your walk for Him. Blessings,
Wendi Westmoreland
Be Still Girl
(I still laugh at my "nickname". It is like the Lord is saying to me "Be Still, Girl!!!!).