Kristin Hill Taylor

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Three Word Wednesday :: Gift of Rest

July 8, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Please welcoming my friend Katie Reid to #ThreeWordWednesday! We connected on the internet and both are part of the God-sized Dreams website writing team. We have a shared passion for adoption and are unwinding our tightly-wound selves as we learn about letting go of perfectionism. This week I’m in the mountains of Guatemala on a mission trip, so I’m thrilled to have Katie’s encouragement to share with you today.

For more than a year I have been striving, driving and running out of gas. I see the speedometer near “E” yet insist on going just a little further — pushing the limits, but running on fumes.

I often don’t get enough sleep and foggy brain sets in from having too many tabs open on the home-screen. I struggle to be present. I feel overwhelmed by the house, the hurry and the hiccups —unexpected circumstances that interfere with endless to-do lists.

My husband and I have tried to be more intentional with resting on Sundays — you know, like God told us too. I try not to get online during the day but take a nap and read a book instead. And you know what? I’m starting to love Sundays — especially the ones when I actually unplug and rest. Foregoing the frantic and embracing simplicity is hard for this tightly wound woman, but it is freeing.

A few Sundays ago I declared, “I am going to read a book just for fun. I’m not going to read a how-to-improve book, but a light, make-me-feel-good fiction book.”

I grabbed a book and headed for the hammock. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing gently and peace was waiting.

As I kicked up my heels, I declared a trust in His ability to keep the world in tact — without me at the helm. I laid back and laid down my tendency of “doing.” I breathed deep.

Why had I waited so long to listen to God’s whispers of wisdom? Why had I ignored His invitation to rest?

Daughter,
My yoke is easy.
My burden is light.
And you will find rest for your soul (see Matthew 11:28-30). {Tweet that.}

As I breathed in His grace and breathed out His praise — finally letting God do His thing — I received a gift; the sweet gift of rest.

How foolish I have been, thinking I know better than God.

“God created the universe in 6 days; he rested on the 7th. His message? ‘If creation didn’t crash when I rested, it won’t crash when you do!’”

—Max Lucado

When we rest we communicate a posture of trust in the One who created the earth and holds it, and us, together. Let’s kick back a little more often and unwrap this gift from the One who knows just what we need.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  

—Matthew 11:28-30 {The Message}

With Grace,
Katie

Do you struggle to rest? When was the last time you laid down your load and breathed deep? {Tweet that.}

_____________________

Katie M. Reid is a tightly wound woman, of the recovering perfectionist variety, who fumbles to receive and extend grace in everyday moments. She delights in her hubby, four children and their life in ministry. Through her writing, singing, speaking and photography she encourages others to find grace in the unraveling of life.

Connect with Katie at katiemreid.com and on Twitter and Facebook.

_____________________

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Filed Under: faith, guest post, quotes, Three Word Wednesday

Comments

  1. JViola79 says

    July 8, 2015 at 11:29 am

    Katie, I am so grateful to have read this post as I looked at Matt. 11:28-30 just yesterday. In the NLT, I loved reading this > "Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you…" I am beginning to realize how He longs to teach us to, yes, even rest. Beautiful post.

    Reply
  2. Jann Cobb says

    July 8, 2015 at 11:49 am

    I have been writing about rest for the last couple of weeks. It seems as though we are all being called into a deeper time of it. Praying that you experience more of it. Stopping by from Reflect. I'd love for you to link up at http://www.janncobb.com/link-up/

    Reply
  3. Katie Reid says

    July 8, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    And what a good teacher He is even though I am not often a good student. So thankful for His grace! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Katie Reid says

    July 8, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    So thankful for His gift of rest, so often I neglect it and suffer needlessly because of it. Trying to wise up and rest well.

    Reply
  5. Candace Creates says

    July 8, 2015 at 12:41 pm

    Oh how I can relate to here, Katie! I just took a much needed month off from social media and writing. The word balance had completely left my vocabulary. I've been reentering the online world slowly, but it's still a struggle to fit everything into life. Time in a hammock reading "just for fun" sounds heavenly. It seems like all I read these days is nonfiction, trying to learn something :). Thank you for this beautiful reminder of where we can truly find rest!

    Reply
  6. Katie Reid says

    July 8, 2015 at 1:09 pm

    Thank you Candace. Lovely grace tattoo by the way. Yes, fiction and a hammock, you should. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Bethany Boring says

    July 8, 2015 at 1:26 pm

    I love this idea of rest! I'm still trying to get my retreat in before school starts again in a few weeks!

    Reply
  8. BlessingCounter - Deb Wolf says

    July 8, 2015 at 1:36 pm

    My favorite sentence – I declared a trust in His ability to keep the world in tact. I love that Katie. There is something about actually speaking those words and brings peace and rest. Beautiful post Katie! Thank you for hosting us Kristin!

    Reply
  9. Katie Reid says

    July 8, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    Hi Bethany! Yes, get that retreat in!

    Reply
  10. Katie Reid says

    July 8, 2015 at 2:15 pm

    Thank you Deb. I need to speak and live this much more often. Happy Wednesday to you!

    Reply
  11. bluecottonmemory says

    July 8, 2015 at 3:57 pm

    Embracing simplicity! Oh, yes! I'm learning that lesson, too! I love that you found your way to the hammock with a book! Delightful simplicity!

    Reply
  12. Katie Reid says

    July 8, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    Simplicity, I need more of that. I pack our schedule, my mind and our life with too much that I crowd out the whispers of His love. Glad we're not alone as we slowly learn to unwind more fully.

    Reply
  13. Susan says

    July 8, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    "As I breathed in His grace and breathed out His praise — finally letting God do His thing — I received a gift; the sweet gift of rest." What a wonderful new habit – resting on Sonday! I am NOT being facetious here – it is what all of us should do, thank you for reminding me! I'm getting my hammock out of the attic as soon as I hit "post". xo

    Reply
  14. Tiffany says

    July 8, 2015 at 8:19 pm

    Love your words here today, Katie and I so relate. I've been doing that tightrope walk with balance and rest lately and have found pure joy in taking God's cues to make the time to slow down. Not only does it open opportunity to hear from Him, but it also just makes like so much sweeter. Yup – reading a good book, watching a movie, relaxing in quiet – they really are the sweetest things in life.

    Reply
  15. Katie Reid says

    July 8, 2015 at 10:55 pm

    Yes, hammocks all around! Susan, I am really not proficient at rest, in the slightest—unfortunately. I asking the Sabbath Maker to help me change and trust His wisdom instead of my productivity.

    Reply
  16. Katie Reid says

    July 8, 2015 at 10:56 pm

    Hi Tiffany! Yes, joy to be found when we get off the tightrope and rest on the landing mat below it. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Betsy Cruz says

    July 9, 2015 at 11:57 am

    Beautiful post that strikes a chord with me. The word I chose for 2015 is REST. I went to a weekend retreat last fall on Sabbath Rest and felt so convicted. I realize how easy it is to fill up Sundays with chores. It's hard for me being in in ministry to rest on Sundays, but I always choose other times and try to be intentional about letting go. I wrote a post on this myself at Barbie Swihart's last month, and I'm working on an e-book. (Who knows when that will come out!?) But I also love that Matthew verse in the Message.

    Reply
  18. Katie Reid says

    July 9, 2015 at 2:48 pm

    Yes Betsy, resting on Sundays can be challenging in ministry, praying for pockets of peace elsewhere during the week as you intentional rest in Him.

    Reply
  19. Betsy Cruz says

    July 9, 2015 at 3:57 pm

    Thanks.!

    Reply

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About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

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