GUEST BLOGGER
My guest blogger today is Meredith Mills. Meredith and I met through writing connections online, and then figured out that we don't live too far apart in our fine state of Georgia! Perhaps one day soon I'll travel the couple of hours to chat with her in person about the things we have in common, like, homeschooling, writing, and loving Jesus!
Please read her words below, and then visit her website for more of her wonderful words! I know you'll enjoy her thoughts, just like I do!
Let’s Go Back
Returning to Rest
When Life Won’t Slow Down
by Meredith Mills
And just like that, summer is over.
I’m not sure what happened to the lazy days of summer, but
we didn’t see many of them this year. All three kids swam on our neighborhood
swim team and had a blast. A six-times-a-week blast. Then our son started cross
country with one, then two, now three practices a week. There were other
activities as well, like VBS and STEM camp and playdates.
While the kids were busy, I spent a lot of time writing and even
tackled a few painting projects. Our summer was definitely full.
But as the school year approached and I went into planning
and prep mode for our homeschool and co-op, I realized life was about to get
even busier.
Not going to lie – I’ve had a few meltdowns trying to keep
up with everything.
One night I jolted awake, gasping for breath as I realized
I was in the middle of a panic attack. It seemed strange, because I didn’t
think I wasn’t mentally worried about anything. Yet the emotional stress of
trying to juggle all my responsibilities was taking its toll.
The irony of my current writing project has not escaped my
notice. I mean, really. I’m writing a book on soul rest. It seems I may have
picked the wrong topic.
Until I remember that I’m writing it because I’m learning
it.
Rest is on my heart because I’m learning to practice it in
the middle of our everyday crazy. Things may not slow down, at least not for
long. But I’m discovering God’s invitation to “come rest” remains unchanged in
each life season.
Here’s what He’s teaching me on this crazy, busy road:
· *Soul rest
takes returning
“Return
to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you” (Psalm 116:7). In
the busyness, it’s easy to become unsettled. To grow restless when life feels
out of control or when our insides are knotted up for one reason or another.
Living
from a heart of rest requires a choice – a conscious decision to cling to faith
over feelings, to let God draw us back to Himself as our Source of peace.
·
*Soul rest
has a Source
The psalmist found rest in remembering God
and we can, too. Right in the middle of life’s crazy, without waiting for things
to calm down, we must remind our hearts of who God is:
o
He is abundantly good, even when life isn’t.
o
He responds to my prayers.
o
He is gracious, compassionate, and faithful.
o
He is infinitely powerful.
o
He’ll never call me where His grace won’t
sustain me.
o
He’s already provided, in Jesus, everything I
need to live the life to which He’s called me.
o
He loves me unconditionally and welcomes me to
come running – freely, boldly, to Him.
o
He is, and always will be, for me.
The bottom line, I’m
learning, is that soul rest is a walk of faith.
Whether I’m sitting at His feet in prayer or driving my kids
to yet another lesson or practice, I can rest fully and freely in my
relationship with Jesus. He never changes and His definition of me, His
daughter, is constant, too.
When you know you’re
relentlessly loved and fully accepted, life gets a whole lot easier.
That the reality for every
follower of Jesus. Will you join me in resting in this truth today?
How do you practice soul rest? I’d love to hear – please
comment below to join the conversation!
Meredith Mills is a wife and mother to three inquisitive, adventurous,
fun-loving kids. She loves finding Jesus in the everyday and is passionate
about helping others experience Him, too. She blogs about living from a heart
at rest at www.DazzledByTheSon.com. Connect with her on Facebook at Dazzled By The Son and on Instagram
and Twitter @DazzledByTheSon.
No comments:
Post a Comment