Rest

When I first started working on today's blog, I wasn't sure what topic I wanted to write about.  I started off with "multi-tasking" and then moved on to general "busy-ness", then I realized that I wanted to cover both of those topics under the title of "Rest".  I have said, more than once, that I wish that there was just a few more hours in every day to get everything accomplished that I would like to accomplish.  The funny thing is, when I was single, I had that extra time.

I remember very clearly one day when I was still single and I was dusting.  I didn't have a busy social life, and I had only just started serving the Lord by teaching Sunday School at my church.  It was the first time in my adult life that I didn't HAVE to work two jobs just to survive. So there I was dusting and thinking.  I was thinking about how there had to be more to life than going to work, going to church and cleaning my apartment.  Since I was finally at that place where I didn't have to work two jobs, I really didn't want to go back to that.  So the next logical thought was that I might as well go back to school and get my degree.  That's how it all started! 

Once I started school, my schedule became very full!  I was working during the day full time, going to school in the evenings full time, studying for school and preparing Sunday School lessons.  This wasn't too bad, but then I met that special someone and threw in dating, planning a wedding, getting married and getting pregnant all before I graduated!  Whew!  I wanted to fill up my time, and I certainly accomplished that!

Fast forward to today, and I'm still trying to find time to fit it all in.  I know I'm not the only one.  Most of my friends are also working moms, and some of them are even busier than I am!  Why do we do this to ourselves, and should we be?  If we are too busy, how do we break the cycle?  It is this particular topic that is on my mind a lot as I consider whether I should be working outside the home.  At this point, I am praying for God's direction on that.  In the meantime, I'm trying to balance it all.

Our ladies' Bible Study is currently focusing on the book Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  One of the lies that she says we tend to believe is that "I don't have enough time to do everything I'm supposed to do".  The truth that sets us free from that is that there is enough time in every day to do the things that God wants me to do.  I will share one secret with you, and sometimes I forget this myself.  When I put my focus on God and others, there seems to be enough time to accomplish things, and time left over to rest.  I don't know why I can't seem to remember that!


One of my favorite passages in the Bible is about the Proverbs 31 woman.  Proverbs 31:10-31 describes the ultimate Supermom, a mom that I would like to say that I strive to be, and yet fall so far short. Her husband and children call her blessed, she makes her own clothes, she brings in food from afar, she takes care of the poor, her family is dressed warmly, she makes fine linens and sells them, she is wise when she speaks, she buys land and plants vineyards, she is not idle, the list is extensive!  If you get a chance, spend some time reading about this amazing woman!  After reading this passage, I feel a little sheepish about any complaining that I have done about being too busy or overworked!  How does she do it all?  For me to accomplish even half of what she does, I would need to acquire a whole new set of skills!  I think if we focus on one verse near the end of this passage, we have the answer:  Proverbs 31:30 - "Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain:  but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."  This woman is a woman of God, and He has greatly blessed her and her home.


I know many amazing women who love and serve God, yet they are still worn out!  Why?  Are they doing something wrong?  I don't think so, but I do think that there are important concepts in the Bible that we put aside, and by doing that, we throw out the balance in our lives.    In Luke, Jesus teaches an important truth about service.  He is visiting at the home of Martha and Mary.  Martha is being Superhostess, fretting about the details.  This passage makes me wince a little bit.  I have found myself very guilty of fussing over the details, and not spending time with our guests! I think women have a special gene that makes them do this. Gasp!  What will people think if I let the dip run low, or there is a mess on the counter?  The horror!   Jesus teaches two important things here. We need to spend time with Him (in Bible study and prayer) and we need to spend time with others (in fellowship).  He tells Martha, "...Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  But one thing is needful and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."  Sigh.  Why can't I seem to remember that?

The Bible teaches us something else important that we often forget to do.  Rest.  Psalm 90 teaches us that we only have so many days in our lives, about 70 years or so.  We need to be aware of this and use our time wisely.  We need to spend time resting in God's Word and in prayer.  We know that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world and everything in it, we know that Jesus often left the multitudes to be alone in prayer with the Father.  If God and Jesus took the time to rest, what makes us think that we don't need to?

So, to all of you awesome, overachieving women (and men), who are overworked, stressed out, and dare I say, unbalanced; our friend in Proverbs 31 is an excellent example in that she loves God, her family and others, but don't forget to follow the awesome examples of our God and our glorious Savior and get some REST!

I am taking some time to consider the following verses, I hope you do too!


Genesis 2:3 - "And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it:  because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made."

Psalm 90:10-12 - "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.  Who knoweth the power of thine anger?  Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.  So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."


Matthew 14:23a - "And when He had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray..."

God Bless!