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Two years ago, as some of you know, I walked through a time of extreme stress with our sons and with my mother breaking her hip and wrist in a fall. I couldn’t breathe deep. I didn’t stop to catch my breath. I barely spent time with God because of all the things pressing down on me. By the time Christmas Eve arrived, I was depleted in every way. I know people now who are enduring painful times of loss, uncertainty, and trauma. In my own season of extreme stress, I learned that when life throws nonstop stress at us, that’s when we most need to choose rest.
The wonderful thing about rest is that we can choose to make it a part of our lives. And choose we must. Last time, we considered how to begin creating a lifestyle of rest.
I was reading Psalm 121 recently, and the idea of being in the shade of God’s right hand stood out to me. Psalm 121:5 says:
When God covers us with His shade, we can either stay in it and move at His pace, or we can speed ahead into the sun’s harsh rays. God wants to protect us, even in the midst of hard seasons. He does this best when we yield our fears, desires, and drives into His hands, trusting His timing and His plan over what we may think is best.
Choose Rest in Every Season
Seasons of heartbreak deplete us, demanding much from our emotions and our mental capacities. We need to choose to rest in the shade He offers us. Sometimes, that may look like going to a private place, even if just for a little while and taking time to breathe, to pray, to process.
We’ll navigate stressful seasons better when we take care of ourselves. Placing our needs too low on our priority lists may sound holy, but it leads to burnout, to muddled thinking, and to discouragement. We all need rest.
It’s in the painful seasons when we need to choose:
To stay where God is,
To trust Him in the unknowns,
To trust in His timing,
The best over the good, even when that means withdrawing for a time.
When we choose rest—even when it seems like we don’t have time to do this—we walk better through every life season.
When we choose rest—even when it seems like we don’t have time to do this—we walk better through every life season. #tellhisstory #rest #sacredrest Click To Tweet
How do we choose rest in busy seasons:
- Slow down our lives as we’re able. This looks different for each person. Take time to evaluate and sift through our activities, our priorities, our responsibilities, and then listen as God shows us what should stay in our schedules and what we should hand off to someone else.
- Pray that God will align our priorities and our hearts with His. This opens opportunities for rest that refreshes us.
- Be intentional about setting boundaries on our time and on our emotional investments. When we know our priorities, we know what we should or shouldn’t say yes to.
The Benefits of Making Rest a Priority
God knew what He was doing when He made rest a necessity. He knew we would need rest if we are to be equipped to walk through all life throws at us. When we choose rest, we experience the benefits.
Benefits of Rest:
- Our bodies, emotions, and souls learn to breathe deep—even in the hard seasons, the busy seasons. This enables us to face the stress and the many emotions in our lives.
- We can make wiser choices, less driven by stress. When we have allowed each aspect of ourselves to rest, we will think more clearly to make wise decisions, rather than allowing stress to dictate our thought process.
- We can savor our life. God created us to work, but He also created us to enjoy. When we do the work, we can and should take time to savor the lives we’re creating, rather than pressing right into the next task.
- Rest quiets life so we can listen with our spirit. “It removes the distractions. It pulls us close with both hands on our cheeks and whispers, ‘I’m right here with you.’” ~Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, Sacred Rest
We won’t always be walking in hard seasons. Regardless of what we’re facing right now, making rest a priority will enable us to enjoy life more fully in the easygoing times, and it will strengthen us for the difficult times.
What about you? When you are walking through a hard season, what helps you to choose rest? How are you making space for rest in your life right now?
This week, I’m linking up with Grace and Truth, #RaRaLinkup, and #Instaencouragements. Come join and read more encouraging posts!
Thank you for a beautiful and thought-provoking post, and as always for beautiful photos! I think i like that last one with the sun shining through the trees the best!
Kathy, I’m so glad you found some good in this post. I’m fascinated by the many ways God shows us our need for Him as well as how He meets our needs so perfectly. I’m so glad you enjoyed the photos. 🙂
Thank you for this wise insight brewed through your own painful experiences, Jeanne. And I love your reflections – “When God covers us with His shade, we can either stay in it and move at His pace, or we can speed ahead into the sun’s harsh rays.” May we stay in His shade at His pace, now ours! Love and blessings to you!
Trudy, I was so surprised when God showed me those little truths in Psalm 121. I had never considered how they fit with the idea of rest before. I’m with you . . . may we stay in God’s shade and move at His pace, not ours. Love and blessings back to you, sweet friend!
Jeanne, grabbing quick, 30-minute naps in the afternoon has been a lifesaver for me over the years, especially when my girls were young and during those very stressful seasons of caregiving like you had two Decembers ago. I literally set the timer and lay down on the couch until it goes off. More often than not, when I get up I’ve gotten my second wind and can finish the day without feeling like I’m going to fall over. 🙂 Such good guidance here, my friend, and the photos are gorgeous!
Lois, sometimes those quick naps help me too. 🙂 I’m glad God’s given us different ways to rest, especially in times of stress!
I can definitely relate to feeling like you can’t get a deep breath. But not because I’m going too fast. Because the weight of stress and grief and my burden for others sits on my chest like a brick. I am praying for peace and rest in my spirit right now. Thank you for this.
Lauren, I know what you mean. And I’m discovering there are different kinds of busy. I feel “busy” sometimes because all my energy is going to a certain thing. I’ve expended lots of energy lately in ways that drain me emotionally and mentally. That burden for others is a blessing, but it may also a place where you need to be re-filled. I’m saying a prayer for you, Lauren.
In the present chaotic world adding to the stress of living life during holidays, rest is a great topic to read. Thanks Jeanne. Also your pictures are beautiful~Especially the one with Psalm 121 written on it. For me rest comes by trusting God when challenges small and large try to eat my peace. At 5:00 AM with dark just beginning to open up to light, sleep can be interrupted with negative worries. That’s the time to choose trust, because the enemy will be on the attack. Like me this morning. I ended up just getting up and talking to my Lord with the Bible.
Mom, yes! You share lots of wisdom here. I’m so glad God’s given us His word for those times when the enemy tries to attack. And He’s also faithful to give us rest when we most need it, isn’t He? When we trust God, it definitely makes rest an easier choice.
What amazing photos and thank you for the simple reminder to choose rest. It’s much needed!
Jed, thank you for your kind words. Rest is soooo needed during this time of year, isn’t it?
This is very timely Jeanne for me at the moment, thank you!
My post this week is, ‘The last, I love you’
https://teawithjennifer.blog/2020/11/27/love-you/
Blessings,
Jennifer
Jennifer, I’m so glad you found this post to be timely. I’m waaaay behind on visiting this week. I’m working on it. Thanks for stopping by!
Jeanne, this post was so life giving to me. This quote is so true, “when life throws nonstop stress at us, that’s when we most need to choose rest.” And for me that’s when I don’t choose it! I am facing a hard season right now, and this morning in my quiet time, I asked the Lord for the kind of rest you are describing here! Thank you for this breath of fresh air!
Donna, I’m so glad this post encouraged you! I tend to be like you, not great at choosing rest when I need it most. But God . . . He’s brought this onto my radar, so now I’m working on choosing rest when life is busy or hard. I’m praying for rest for you, Donna.
Your words and photographs are a cacophony of beauty. Rest is so important, Jeanne – I pray that hard season is long behind you. xo
Thank you so much for your kind words, my friend. And . . . I have teenagers. I’m not sure hard seasons will be behind me for awhile yet. 😉
This is the season when we need the reminder to rest most acutely. I loved this line: “When God covers us with His shade, we can either stay in it and move at His pace, or we can speed ahead into the sun’s harsh rays.” God’s speed – not our own speed. Patience is something I pray for often. Thank you for this beautiful post.
Yes, Laurie, this is the season when we need to choose rest. Patience is something I need desperately too. Thanks for your kind words!
I’m learning so much about the value of rest lately. God is showing me how much I need it, but also how to do it! It doesn’t come easily sometimes, but it’s worth it!
Rebecca, as a mom of teen boys, I’m finding rest is such a difficult thing to integrate into my days. God is showing me my need for it, and honestly, I think having to navigate all that COVID has thrown at me has forced me to find ways to rest when life feels like too much. And yes, it’s sooooo worth it to make rest a regular part of our days.
I’ve been a student of rest for some years now. It is the hardest thing for me to learn!
I loved your line, “Rest quiets life so we can listen with our spirit.” For me, that is my main objective.
Love your photos!
Jerralea, I like how you describe yourself as a student of rest . . . I think that’s what I’m becoming. And yes, rest-lessons are challenging to learn and apply in our lives. Thank you so much for your visit!
“When we choose rest, we experience the benefits.” –So true, dear friend. Your winter photographs are stunning and peaceful, Jeanne.
Blessings ~ Wendy Mac
Thanks for your kind words, and for your visit, my sweet friend!
I felt God’s nudge a few years back to start embracing the Sabbath. In line with Creation’s evening and morning, we started our Sabbath Saturday evening and ended it Sunday evening. No shopping, no cleaning–and my cupboards proved no emptier and my house no dirtier for the change. I, however, was in a better place physically and spiritual. Thank you, Jeanne, for putting the concept of rest into beautiful words and photos.
Shirlee, I like how you phrased that: “embracing the Sabbath.” It sounds like you and your family have set up a good pattern for rest. It must take some organizing to do that, but how wonderful to have that time each week. I so appreciate you stopping by, my friend.
No rest now for the weary,
no succor for the soul,
and relaxation merely
enervates my soul
and pulls spirit from the heart,
drains strength from weakened limbs,
for now I am become a part
of the worst of things,
the things I feared so long ago
that now have come to pass,
and so I have come to know\
that blood makes grow the grass,
and what ever lies ahead,
I guess I’ll rest when I am dead.
Arrgh! Hit ‘post’ befor poofreeding…
This, with your kind indulgence, is what it SHOULD have been.
No succor for the weary,
no ease can make me whole
and relaxation merely
enervates my soul
and pulls spirit from the heart,
drains strength from weakened limbs,
for now I am become a part
of the worst of things,
the horrors feared so long ago
that now have come to pass,
and so I have come to know\
that blood makes green the grass,
and what ever lies ahead,
I guess I’ll rest when I am dead.
Andrew, this is poignant, and it offers a different perspective on rest. I truly am sorry you’re facing things worse than you ever even dreaded years ago. My prayers are with you and Barb, my friend. I will pray you find unexpected rest in your days.
Lovely wintery photos! I haven’t done any winter photography yet. And now we are in a big melt! So kind of muddy around here. lol! I find rest for me when in a stressful time is reading good fiction. And I have been doing a lot of that lately!
Lynn, I find reading a good novel is restful for me too. I need to do more of that! 🙂 I look forward to seeing some of your wintry photos!
“When life throws nonstop stress at us, that’s when we most need to choose rest” but that’s usually the time we feel least able to stop. Jeanne, thank you for grounding us with these truths. I’m bookmarking this post – ‘rest’ is my word for this year and I remind myself of it everyday whenever I’m tempted to do too much. I’ve loved your posts on Rest.
Wemi, I can only imagine all you’ve learned as you’ve focused on rest this year! God does have ways of helping us see both when we’re doing too much and our need for rest. There’s a balance between doing and resting that I still struggle to live out at times. I’m so glad these posts have been an encouragement for you.
Your photos are just beautiful, Jeanne! This is so true >> “”Making rest a priority will enable us to enjoy life more fully in the easygoing times, and it will strengthen us for the difficult times.” Somehow when we take time to rest, truly making it a priority, we are then better able to get more done. Rest is the sacred pause. Blessings!
Joanne, thanks so much for your kind words. You’re right. When we are intentional about giving rest a priority place in our days, we are able to get more done and to have a better perspective about what really needs to be done.
You’ve created a lovely, restful scene here, Jeanne. We’re all yearning for rest in our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Now more than ever …
Awww, thanks, Linda. I think you’re right. Our minds, bodies, and spirits do yearn for rest!
I grew up hearing that ‘Sabbath is a day of rest,’ so the whole concept of rest has been baked into my life (thank you, Mom and Dad!). As I grew older and busier, that 24-hour period has become more and more precious to me. Knowing that I can set aside social media and the cares of the world for 24 hours helps me not freak out with all I have to/need to/want to do in the moment. The promise of a weekly big rest helps me take little rests along the way.
Anita, you are blessed that Sabbath became a part of your life at a young age. I wonder if, when that’s the first thing you know, it’s easier to integrate into your life as you grow into adulthood. I so appreciate you sharing what works for you. Thank you for that.
It took me years to learn this–that when I feel the most burdened and stressed is when I need the most rest. And adequate rest will alleviate that burdened and stressed feeling. And it’s not always spiritual to push ourselves without rest. Thank you for these reminders in a busy season.
I am a lifetime member of the “when you don’t know what to do, spring into frenzied activity ” club, and so I have to be so careful about boundaries.
One practice that’s working for me in Advent is to take time in the early morning to watch for the light, and when it arrives, to write down what it looked like. It’s proof to me that there is life going on outside my head!
Michele, I had to grin at that club you’re a member of. I think I’ve lived in that club for far too long. I am learning to set better boundaries though, and I’m slowly becoming (a little) more comfortable with not doing when I don’t know what to do. I love that practice you’re using. What a great idea. I’m taking notes on this, friend.
Yes, Barbara. I’m seeing more and more that it is those seasons when stress bears down the hardest that we must choose rest. And yes, adequate rest does alleviate the intensity of the stressed feelings. God made us to rest. I need to heed His call to rest more often than I do. 🙂
Jeanne,
As always, I LOVE your photographs mixed with your words. God has been the ultimate “Coach” and has benched me in seasons when the stress was just too overwhelming. That’s when rest is a necessity, not a luxury. My biggest struggle is setting healthy boundaries for myself and doing what only I can do to help the situation.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev, thank you for your kind words. God is the ultimate coach, for sure and for certain. I’m learning I should never view rest as a luxury. Especially when life is stressful. I think one of my biggest struggles is setting boundaries too…especially when it comes to my sons. But, I’m learning. I like the boundary you use in situations. That’s a great thing to consider.