Why I'm saying goodbye to glorifying busyness and embracing rest.
Hey beautiful friends! I know it's been a while and missed you all terribly. I wanted to share an update on where I've been over the past few months. Let's dive in, shall we?
Have you ever felt like you were on a never-ending hamster wheel, just going through the motions? If so, you're not alone. Many of us struggle with finding true rest.
I know I did. I am a busy mom, daughter, and entrepreneur, and I always felt like I had to be doing something, even in my downtime. I never really took the time to rest, and this year I paid the price for it. I was exhausted, stressed out, neglecting my health, and I was starting to feel burned out. Things came to a head in February when I passed out and had to be rushed to the hospital. My doctor put me on bed rest and God put me on a time-out.
You might be thinking, “Hey Melissa, with all that bed rest, why not churn out some blog posts?” But here's the thing, I was told to press pause. Abba instructed me to power down EVERYTHING except what He directed and, of course, take care of my son.
The primary task? REST and REST IN HIM!
Abba had been nudging me for months to slow down, rest and take care of myself before my health took a hit, but I brushed those nudges aside. There was so much to do especially as a busy mother, right? But as we know, God has this beautiful way of loving us, of warning us about what's coming. However, we often choose to ignore the signs, thinking we can always push them off until later.
This could have been avoided if I had listened to His warnings to slow down and get some much-needed rest. But in my busyness, I keep brushing it off. I thought I could keep pushing myself, doing it all in my own strength. I didn't understand the vital importance of physical and spiritual rest. But God in His wisdom knew I needed a reset.
Our society is so consumed with the hustle, the grind, and the idea of 'sleeping when we're dead.' (FYI, don't say that anymore, please) But it's okay, even necessary, to slow down, to rest, and to take care of ourselves. Even God rested after creating the world (Genesis 2:3), and Jesus found solitude to pray, rest, and recharge (Mark 6:30-31).
If they rested, why do we resist it so much?
Those first few weeks of bedrest I fought it and resisted truly letting go. I tried to control everything from bed, determined to keep up with my endless to-do list. I struggled to trust that God could care for me and my family during this time. Past disappointments from others had planted seeds of doubt that He would truly take care of and support me fully during this time.
But an amazing thing happened as I surrendered more fully - I began to experience God's faithfulness in incredible ways. He carried my son and I through. He brought people around us to help. He provided supernaturally.
Then, I had a revelation. Real rest, the kind that heals and rejuvenates, requires complete surrender and trust in God, our loving Father who promises to lighten our burdens (Matthew 11:28-30) and who has beautiful plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). He's not a deadbeat Dad, and He knows exactly what we need.
Let me assure you, there is tremendous power in surrendering. It was a struggle, and yes, there were piles of laundry, unwashed hair, lots of breakfast-for-dinner nights, and homeschooling from my bedroom., lol. But everything started to fall into place when I learned to cast my worries onto Him ( and He is still teaching me). My son and I thrived, and God graciously provided for our every need.
One truth stands out through all this: Whatever you are currently going through, don't go through it alone. Do it with God! Philippians 1:6 assures us that God will complete the good work He started in us. So all we need to do is surrender, trust, and obey.
This season taught me so much about resting in my Heavenly Father's presence.
Here are 7 blessings/ benefits I discovered:
Renewed Strength (Isaiah 40:31)
Guidance for Decisions (James 1:5)
Peace and Comfort (Matthew 11:28-29)
Healing and Restoration (Psalm 23:3)
Revelations and Understanding (Jeremiah 33:3)
Joy and Gladness (Psalm 16:11)
Discernment and Wisdom (Proverbs 16:20)
Remember, whatever you may be facing, know that you don't have to figure it out alone. Do it with God. Surrender your expectations and trust His plans for you. Allow Him to take the wheel - you can rest in knowing He will care for you perfectly.
Here is a journal prompt to help you in your journey to resting with Abba:
What areas of your life do you need to surrender control of to God?
What fears or doubts are keeping you from fully trusting Him?
Want to learn how to surrender and embrace your identity as a daughter of the King?
Sign up for my free devotional, "Unlocked: A 7-Day Devotional to Embrace Your Identity and Purpose as a Daughter of the King"
And remember, my loves, true rest comes only from our Father. Embrace it. 💕
In Love and Faith,
Melissa 💕
And, if you found this post helpful, don't forget to share and like it.
Let's spread the word about the benefits of divine rest and surrender and keep the faith conversation going!
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