Making Room for Rest

I have just returned from my time abroad! I am thankful for your patience as this site took a break, and I look forward to sharing all that God taught me during my trip over the next few weeks!

Heading into this trip, I distracted myself with many things. I was working multiple jobs, starting various creative projects, and never letting myself take a moment to realize what was happening.

Forcing myself to feel productive and purposeful left me feeling drained and overwhelmed. Actions meant to prevent me from harm ended up postponing the deeper healing I needed.

But thankfully God gave me the opportunity to step out of my current reality and objectively look at my life. Through the four weeks I was away, rest had to take a different form.

Often it was simply a necessity after running around a Tube station in search of the right train or a particularly intense class session. There was no other way to move forward without taking a breather first.

Ultimately, I realized more deeply than I ever had before that rest needs to be a priority. It may feel like laziness or procrastination, but making room for rest in life is the only way to do things well. To live fully into the purpose God has created us for.

And then, of course, the day after I get home the one thing I haven’t checked off on my to-do list is “rest”.

But rest can’t be checked off. Rather, it needs to be a practice. Pausing before reaching for our devices to soak in the moment and regroup. Praying and reading the Bible before starting or ending the day. Taking a walk before starting a task.

Rest looks different in each season, but it’s vital no matter where you are in life. I hope you can love yourself enough to give yourself the chance to rest and bring your best self to the table. You are worth it. ❤

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Mark 6:31