Time to Rest

Hi friends! I’ve been wondering…when did we all get so busy?! A few months ago, I told myself that summer was just a busy time of year, and I should expect to be running constantly. Now that we’re edging into fall, I think, well, fall is just a busy time of year. And before long, I’ll be saying the same thing about Christmas! It’s just so BUSY! There are so many things to do and to plan, lists to be crossed off.

Sometimes I get so focused on all the things that need attention, and the things that I need to do, that I forget that I need to stop and rest. To realign my focus on Who and what is really important. In Psalm 46:10, it says:

“”Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.””

This is so personal to me, because it reminds me that in my business, I can lose my focus. A friend once told me about a particularly stressful situation she was enduring, and she said, “But this is not eternal.” Wow. In all that junk she was dealing with, she stopped and realized that it was not of eternal significance. That is so good!

At the beginning of this Psalm, it says in verses 1-3:

“God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!”

My circumstances are guaranteed to change, but God is always the same – “always ready to help in times of trouble.” I love my planner, and all the daily to-do lists. However, I realize that I can only do so much. I can’t do it all. I could write down 50 tasks, but in all of my wishful-thinking, organized-ideal-self, I’m realistically only able to do so much. And, it’s not all about what I can do. If all I do is hustle and rush, I’ve missed out on the resting and the being still: worshiping the sovereignty and awesomeness of God.

I love to go hiking on a local trail called Upper Table Rock. When I hike, there’s only one thing I focus on and that’s climbing uphill. It’s a great time for heavy thinking because there’s no distractions. A few times while struggling up the hill and thinking all the thoughts, I’ve been reminded of scriptures. What if I hadn’t been listening?  If I’m constantly flooding myself with information and tasks, when do I stop and listen?

“Be still, and know that I am God!” These two pages in my bible remind me to take the time and make the time to be still, to rest in God and worship Him. I’m using a new digital set in the Print & Pray Shop called Self Care Dare by Leah Schumacher. I have a prayer on one side and a check myself list on the other side. I was inspired to try a two page journaling entry after seeing Elaine Davis do this a few times. It was nice to have the extra room to really process what I’m learning!

Thanks for spending a little time with me today! <3, Cristin

Apple Barrel Paint Colors: Cameo Pink, Sunny Day, Apricot