Rest for the Very Weary - Encouragement Café - August 10, 2017

Rest for the Very Weary
Dawn Mast
Thursday, August 10, 2017

“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1 NIV

With four young people in our house, and three of them being teen-aged boys, life is a whirlwind of drivers, activities, keeping up with where everyone is and monitoring how much food we need.

I absolutely love being a mom at this stage of life and my husband and I treasure the rich conversations we are having with our children.

But we are tired. Maybe even more tired than when they were toddlers because toddlers nap. Teens don't. 

However, we all need rest and just to stop and regroup. So we often congregate on the deck in the summer. One of us sprawls on the chaise lounge, another 2 swing in the hammock and several of us grab mats and lie on the deck.

The six of us lay outside for hours and talk, laugh and look at the stars. No one has their phone, i-pod or i-anything. It's just us and the I AM.

This time gives our family the rest we need. We may not be closing our eyes and sleeping, but we are unplugging from the world and plugging into what matters. Being able to cultivate time with God and our family gives us the breathing space we need to face another day.

We feel that we've been cared about by the people who love us most in this world and we feel "filled" up and ready to love on others.

We think we are too busy for slowing down and resting, but who is busier than God?! After creating the world He rested (Genesis 2:2-3).

While Jesus was ministering He needed rest (Mark 6:31). Can you imagine having people shout out to you, hang on your robe and beg for healing all day? In the heat! And we see in Luke 17:11-19 that Jesus healed 10 men of leprosy, but only one came back to thank Him. 

Wouldn't that kind of ingratitude wear on your soul? It would mine! You know how you feel when you cook, clean, work for others, do laundry, drive all over town and all you hear is complaining or fighting. It truly wears on you, yet Jesus had the heart of God and He saw people differently.

But He still needed rest and to just get away after being with people. He loved people (still does!), but when He walked the earth He needed rest and a "time out" to pray and seek peace in the name of His Father.

If we can just rest and calm down then we can hear from God. We can't get good rest from TV, social media or shopping. It needs to come from God. Our souls really do find that deep rest in Him alone.

The unplugging really is the hardest part, right? It is for me! But we've done just fine for the centuries before i-whatevers and social media and we will be just fine without it for a few hours. Or a day. Or even a week-end. Just turn it off and turn to the Lord because honestly He misses you.

Make the most of your drive time by turning off the radio and putting that phone in the glove compartment (where it belongs anyway!) When we talk to Him more we will hear from Him more. And our rest will be sweeter.

Father God, Thank You that we have the ability to connect via technology. It's helpful to keep us safe and in touch with our loved ones. Help me to reach for You and Your Word and not an electronic substitute. Lord, I rest better when I lean on You and when I unplug from the world and connect with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

For more encouragement, visit Dawn at http://www.thatdawnedonme.wordpress.com.

© 2017 by Dawn Mast.  All rights reserved.

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