Hey you! Yes, you! Do you have a problem sitting still? Is it difficult for you to rest, even when you know that you need to do so? Do you find that you need a reason to rest or that you only can rest when you’re sick? If your answer is yes to any of the aforementioned questions, then you’re not alone. I am right there with you.
On last week, I shared a H.O.T. (Honest, Open, & Transparent) Moment with you all on my social media platforms, but I felt it was necessary for us to talk about it in a little more depth within the safety of JWJ’s platform. Being completely transparent, I have a problem sitting still. I always have. I especially get frustrated when I have fibromyalgia flare ups, because it forces me to be still, partially because I usually cannot move my extremities at these moments, beyond uncontrollable flailing. I have no choice but to rest. I have no choice but to be still and patiently wait for my body to recoup. Most times, I’m stuck in bed surrounded by the four walls of my bedroom and, for better or worse, my thoughts. To be even more transparent, this is the time that my thoughts often get the best of me. The ruminating thoughts of “what if” or “when will it get better” often plague my mind during these moments. However, I’ve realized that it’s in the stillness of those moments that God speaks to me the most.
As I’ve been sitting in one of these moments over the past week and a half, I’ve had to ask myself, “Why does it bother you so much to rest?”, and “Why haven’t you fully surrendered to rest yet?” Once I truly allowed myself to reflect upon these questions as well as honestly search for an answer, I found one. Not only did I discover an answer, but God also gave me a revelation that has changed my perspective on rest. Furthermore, it has allowed me to fully surrender to the very same rest that I would love to share with you—my J-Bugs in hopes that it’ll help.
I discovered that I had a problem sitting still and that it bothered me to rest because it forces me to truly confront my thoughts and whom I am in totality. I’m not distracted by any outside noise. It’s literally just me, my thoughts, and God. In those moments, I can’t run and hide from my flaws, my thoughts, or the things that I need to work on to be the best version of me. Ultimately, it’s in this time that I must confront my fears and do the work to move past them. Subsequently, I realized that I hadn’t fully surrendered to rest because I always thought that I needed a reason to rest. I’ve always felt justified in resting after I worked hard or expelled a lot of energy. I felt that rest was a punishment. Ultimately, it wasn’t until God revealed to me, just this week, that rest isn’t a dirty word and that it doesn’t equate punishment. Rather, rest is a free gift, given to us by God, that we should indulge in as often as possible. He also reminded me that it is in the stillness of those restful moments that He speaks to me and deals with me the most. His Spirit is always present but magnified then, and where His Spirit is, there’s everything we need, including rest for our souls!
The more I pondered on the revelation that God gave me regarding rest, the more comfortable I became surrendering to it. As I previously stated, it is in those moments that God speaks to me and deals with me the most. In those moments, He has my full and undivided attention. He’s able to impart the wisdom, knowledge, and vision that I need. He’s able to prepare me for what’s to come. He’s able to refine me and show me the work that I need to do on myself. In those moments, my mind, body, and spirit are rejuvenated as well. Most importantly, it’s in those moments of rest that I’ve learned to solely depend upon God.
To you—my J-Bugs, I encourage you to surrender to your God-ordained moments of rest and allow that time to rejuvenate you but most importantly teach you! If you’re having trouble surrendering to rest, I implore you to ask yourself why and honestly search for the answer. I also beseech you to allow God to speak to and deal with you during those moment of rest. Allow Him to refine you and prepare you for your next season. Most importantly, learn to solely depend on God for your every need during your moments of rest. Surrender to your moments of rest and trust God to carry you through them, knowing that rest is not a punishment, but a gift!
Comments