Rest and Enjoy Your Blessings!
by Brandy Webb
I have heard that some people are afraid to rest. At first I was surprised until I evaluated my own life, and then the statement actually made a lot of sense. Today, with the desire to get ahead and be successful by the world’s definition, we have become programmed to not rest.
Our society, at least as far as I can tell, is based on how much can get done in the shortest amount of time all in the name of efficiency. Just look at someone’s resume and one of the key elements they try to show is great time management skills. In other words, I work hard to get more things done than the average person can in the same time allotted.
We live with fast internet, fast cars, tablets, computers, and cell phones that can do nearly everything your tablet or computer can do. Email, Facebook, Twitter, all at the touch of an app anywhere you are. Notifications ping us all day, every day.
The point is that most of us do not like to slow down. I am bad about this also. I feel guilty if I am not being productive. Since I am a stay at home mom, I feel compelled to show my worthiness to the world by being ultra productive since I am not in the normal workforce with projects to prove how productive I am. I do not know when worthiness became defined by busyness.
I have programmed my mind to be busy. This is a problem. How am I supposed to enjoy God’s creation around me, the blessings He has given me, and feel peace if I do not allow myself to slow down. I mean, in Micah 6:8 we are told what God requires of us, “to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with [our] God.” I love the word walk. Walking is much easier than jogging and running.
This fear of resting keeps us from contentment and helps in the worry and anxiety department.We are never satisfied with “right now.” Thus, we keep charging forward to some unknown goal and point that sometimes moves further and further away, because once it is reached we tend to sometimes think, Well, if I work harder then I can achieve an even higher level.
Yet, in Ecclesiastes 2:24; 3:13; 5:18; and 7:14, we are taught that it is good for a person to eat,drink, and enjoy the fruit of his labor, for it is a gift from God. We are only here for but a moment. Life is short. It is worth it to slow down and enjoy the blessings God has given us.
We should make it a point to sit down while enjoying the fruits of our labor and watch the sunset, the moon rise, the stars shine, and just be content. When I force myself to sit and be still,then I can see God everywhere from the light breeze, an insect singing, birds flying, and the children playing. He is all around us, and sometimes we are too busy to notice. So, walk, breathe, rest, and dwell in the presence of God.