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.
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.”
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.
Want more insights? “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”
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.
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/
And what a good teacher He is even though I am not often a good student. So thankful for His grace! 🙂
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.
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!
Thank you Candace. Lovely grace tattoo by the way. Yes, fiction and a hammock, you should. 🙂
I love this idea of rest! I'm still trying to get my retreat in before school starts again in a few weeks!
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!
Hi Bethany! Yes, get that retreat in!
Thank you Deb. I need to speak and live this much more often. Happy Wednesday to you!
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!
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.
"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
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.
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.
Hi Tiffany! Yes, joy to be found when we get off the tightrope and rest on the landing mat below it. 🙂
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.
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.
Thanks.!