How Do You Find Rest?

Can I be totally honest with you? Sometimes my life leaves me completely exhausted. I love T and our kids, and I like my job for the most part, but there are days it all leaves me feeling zapped and cranky. Being zapped and cranky is usually what leads to me grabbing junk food, laying on the couch, scrolling through social media, with the TV on in the background, all in the name of "rest." Guess what? That scenario I just described is probably familiar to some degree, but it's not really restful, is it?

Usually when I indulge myself in laying around like this, I start to feel guilty for not doing more, not eating better, not being some perfect Pinterest mom, and it's definitely not a restful moment. I'm simply allowing my brain to go numb for a little while, numbing my emotions, and I'm not much more than a shell, looking for a way to pretend to be happy.

If you follow me on Facebook, then you know I started something called Holy Girl 40, which is a variation of 75 Hard. This requires time spent in prayer, time studying the Bible, time moving my body, all of the things that bring some life back into me, but the concept of Sabbath has interested me for a while. There are at least two days a week that I could make Sabbath a priority, but I usually don't. I want to, but I haven't built up as much of my self-discipline skills. It's an ongoing process.

What would happen if I intentionally made a plan and took the time to sit quietly with God? Something deeper than my quiet time in the mornings or a rushed moment of prayer before work. Sabbath and a day of rest doesn't mean taking a nap. It means giving yourself permission to do something that refreshes your heart, mind, and body. Take a prayer walk in nature, or in town if that's your preference and it's not beyond frigid outside. Sit in a quiet space with a warm drink and a prayer journal. Talk with God and worship in a way that brings you peace and refreshes you for your upcoming week. Press pause on your to-do list, put down your phone, and pick up your Bible. You might hear an answer that You've been waiting for, but you'll definitely come back rested and ready to take on another week.

Consider This: Take a few minutes to think about what your ideal Sabbath looks like. If you've got kids and activities and all the everything going on, then it may be harder to do, but not impossible. Make a plan to try a Sabbath day, or an afternoon. Make a list of what needs to be done ahead of time and what can wait until after, so you can intentionally enjoy your time with God and your family. Let me know how it goes for you! I'm going to try to do the same.

Afterthoughts- I've shared the Holy Girl 40 on the Consider the Wildflowers Facebook page if you are interested!