Find Your Rhythm of Rest

 

 

“Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.” ~A. Maclaren

My grandson, Braden, was nine when he taught me a new color.

“Come on Meema, you gotta see this! But hurry or we’re gonna miss it!” Holding my hand, he led me around a row of pine trees and pointed to the sky beyond the cornfields.

The sunset was spectacular. We spoke in whispers.

“Braden, what color is that?”

“Oh, that’s porange. You know, pink and orange.”

We were quiet. The world was quiet.

And the huge, fluorescent porange ball floated through gray-blue sky and sank behind a black tree line.

The Jewish Sabbath begins at sunset Friday and ends sunset Saturday. Jesus grew up observing this weekly invitation to stop and enter God’s rest.

Maybe our daily rhythm is backwards. What if we started tomorrow, tonight? What if, instead of going to bed with a head full of worry, we start a new day?

An hour or so before bedtime, I disconnect from screens. I find a quiet space away from phone, TV, computer, and people. Separated from noise, I center in. I slow my brain and breathe deep.

Sometimes I read. Sometimes I pray. Sometimes all I can do is whisper Jesus’ name. This nightly rhythm saves my sanity.

My friend, when we’re exhausted, it’s easy to let the day mess with us. Work, finances, family stuff. And our mistakes often overshadow all we did right.

So, we need to intentionally interrupt our thoughts and center them on our truest source of peace.

When noise, demands, and distractions are gone ~ there’s just you and Jesus.

Wrapped in His compassion, we have courage to review the day. To see where we rocked it and where it rocked us. We soak in the good we did and accept what we can do better.

Soaking in grace, God reminds us we’re actually doing better than we think. We are human. We are forgiven. And it’s a brand new day.

So, in the morning, before our head leaves the pillow, we remember to hold on to this rest. Because the world didn’t stop its frantic pace and all our problems did not get fixed. But, when we  stay connected to God’s presence, we rise above it all.

Though the world is loud, God is not silent.

He often speaks in whispers too. From sunset to sunset, we are invited to watch and listen for the sacred to descend.

“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 … Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” ~ Jesus, in Matthew 11:28-30