Thursday, June 15, 2023
A number of years ago, while I was still working, I decided to quit telling everyone how busy I was. Everyone is busy! My days certainly didn’t contain any more stuff than most people’s.
I became intentional about resting and began to plan 2 or 3-day getaways at the Lourdes College retreat cottage a couple times a year. What a difference that time made! I usually spent the first day sleeping! I took long walks and visited the stations of the cross that are poised in two or three locations on the grounds. I read my Bible and asked God to speak to me through select passages. I drew pictures and wrote in my journal. And then I slept some more! I tried to focus on my relationship with Christ and let him speak to me in the quiet. These retreats became times of great restoration and refreshment for me. I highly recommend it!
I know that not everyone has the capacity to take off from their daily responsibilities for two or three days at a time, but I suggest it is worth the effort to try. Perhaps, right now, you can only manage an afternoon, but that’s a good place to start. When the disciples came back from their first ministry trip, Jesus listened to their experiences. Then he took them away from all the noise so they could rest, process all that had happened, and understand what it meant.
Mark 60:30-32
30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” It is hard to know anything when your mind spins with seemingly endless to-do lists. At times, you need to ruthlessly pursue stillness and refuse to accept defeat!
Questions:
Do you feel that your life is spinning out of control? Is there something you can let go of that does not require your participation?
Next Steps:
Figure out what roles God has given you that only you can do. For example, only you can be a mom or a dad to your kids, a daughter or son to your parents, a brother or a sister to your siblings.
Pray about the purpose God has for you and give up some of the burdens you have shouldered that aren’t yours. Say “no” to obligations that don’t match what God is calling you to. Quit playing the comparison game. God made one ‘you’. Be you, and be still. Listen to your Heavenly Father tell you how much he loves you!
Prayer:
Lord God, I am so grateful for all the gifts, talents, and passions you have given me! Give me wisdom to know how best to use them as I fulfill the roles you have created me for. As I depend on you for discernment, fill in the places where I cannot. I trust that you will. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ecclesiastes 9:17
“Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king.”