One of the hardest things for me to do is take time to rest…to just rest in the loving arms of my Lord.
Do you have that battle too or not?
Doesn’t it seem like we are programmed to always be doing something trying to balance all the “necessary” activities we do in this life?
Working, going to school, taking care of family members, attending events, meetings, taking time to go to the gym, church activities and the list goes on and on.
All these things are important and part of this life on earth. They provide us with opportunities to serve the Lord in all we do; doing all things unto Him.
How much more important it is to actually…
take time to REST with and in the Lord…To REST in His loving arms!
How often do we allow time in our busy schedules for that priority?
Photo courtesy of Wretched, Saved by Grace under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)
After a five-week hiatus from being needed to love on some babies in the NICU, I was inspired this week with the thought of REST as I was holding two different little ones.
Yes, being in the NICU is a holy place for me. Seeing the littlest of babies, some connected to tubes and machines, so tiny fighting for their life reminds me of the sanctity and sacredness of life; how precious life is in all its stages. One week I was holding and feeding a little one that was only 3 lbs 7 oz! What a miracle of life!
I got to thinking of the newborns who require special caregiving, as well as the opposite end of the spectrum, with the elderly who may also need special care. The caregivers are indeed very special people who sometimes devote their lives to taking care of their spouses, parents, children, or friends.
As I was going in the entrance to the hospital this week, there was a mom unloading an older handicapped teen in a wheelchair from her van, bringing her inside, and going back to park her van. The scene tugged at my heart as they had some get well balloons they were bringing to the mom’s husband, the girl’s dad. I silently said a prayer for them all imagining what a difficult road they must be walking.
Photo courtesy of Charlotte Tai under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
This week I was able to hold a five-week old boy who had the most adorable smile and expressions while he was resting in my arms. He was so animated that it made me smile just looking at him for the half-hour I held him. I will also share that he gets the award for the smelliest baby when he was passing gas a few times! 😉
It was my honor to hold a little girl for over three hours who has actually been in the NICU for almost five months! She still is receiving oxygen and has a ways to go before she will be able to go home to join her parents and her twin.
I held her two different times and the second time we conversed for a while before she nodded off to sleep. She has the biggest brown eyes, with long eyelashes, that just stare at you hardly blinking.
As she lay in my arms, she finally fell asleep, but every now and then, she would get fussy and squirm around. I would sing softly to her or talk to her to let her know everything was really okay.
Photo courtesy of Guven Gul under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
As this sweet girl was resting securely in my arms, I couldn’t help but think that
God is always there waiting for us…
to fall securely into His arms…
comforting us…
loving us…
telling us everything is okay…
just like I was doing for this sweet little girl.
We, or at least I, need to make more of an effort to rest in His arms.
What are some ways you can REST in the Lord?
Take time to walk in nature
Take time to go to a chapel
Take time to go into a room in your house and shut the door
Engage in prayer/conversation with the Lord
Take time to listen to Him
What does RESTING in the Lord look like?
Surrendering our racing mind
Letting Him just “hold” us
Soaking up His love
Trusting Him
Remembering who we are in Him
Receiving the peace that He provides
What are some benefits of RESTING in the Lord?
We will end up growing in our relationship with Him
We will be rejuvenated
We will have a fresh perspective on life
We will be enlightened
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” –Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
Love this one! Yesterday I happen to be thinking along these lines as I drove to work. I was stressing out a bit trying to make my morning plans happen just the way I wanted them to. Of course it wasn’t working out too well and it reminded me to let God take care of it. Quit stressing and give it to Him to figure out. His way is gonna be better anyway. In a way, this is one of the ways I rest in God. Giving him the reins.
Amen, Mary-Jo! Giving God the reins in our lives is a great example of resting in God! I believe it is something beneficial we all need to be reminded of. In fact, it is something you have modeled this for me during the last few months. 🙂 Thank you for reading and sharing!