This is for you: the tired, overwhelmed and exhausted. You can rest in between all the life you need to live. You can feel peace inside, even though everything seems to spin out of control.
The last four weeks took me through an amazing journey. Learnings which for the first time feels as if it can stick. Strategies I can apply in the moment of truth. The learnings revolved around: The battle field of my mind, being in the moment and having faith. Today I want to draw these concepts in line and actually summarize them through exploration of Rest.
Yes, REST is one of those words that made me go “Urgh, can’t have, will never have, let’s just move on…” That was before I read the first three chapters of Sarah Mackenzie’s: Teaching from Rest. Her words caused something to stir in my spirit. She describes rest like this: Rest is the balance between neglect and anxiety. Doesn’t that just make perfect sense?Therefore it is not the 10 minutes on the coach alone to regroup, which just…Never happens! This kind of rest is definitely needed, but for me the expectation to get to that coach just really spoils everything I do in between. So what is rest then? Rest is what you feel on the inside while doing the dishes, homework help, dinner, the emails, babysitting, managing the company and making plans, which you have no idea if it will work. It’s the “everything will be ok” assurance deep in your heart, while keeping calm and carrying on.
I know you still might shake your head right now. You tried, and you’re still trying, but it’s just not happening.
During my jungle bashing through the maze of: anxiety, overactive busyness and spiritual warfare, one word stood out in bright lights, flashing fiercely. The word? SURRENDER!
Surrendering all to God is the acceptance of this moment, to live now. When we fight in the Spirit we surrender all battles and victory to the King of the Armies. In faith, I surrender all I believe and all the trust I can muster up, onto one true God.
No matter how we look at it. Surrendering is our saving grace and the key to peace.
Unfortunately, we function in a “I will not surrender” culture. We tend to follow the long way around. The challenge comes and we start working, planning, moving and stressing up until the point of no return, and then … yep, we ask God to help. But why? What about, giving it up immediately, and then wait to see where He wants me to move, work, plan … My guess is there will be much less effort, time and anxiety before we have breakthroughs. It’s the shortcut.
Surrendering, sends a certain message. The message: “O ok, I see this, but I am sure God has a plan”. And almost instantly, an unrealistic (not from this world) relief sets in.
Seeking His presence encourages surrender. Let’s face it: “fight and flight mode” only goes that far. He rewards those who seek Him with their whole heart. What better reward than the Peace that Transcends all Understanding?
I want to close this series of blogs with the verse that started it all:
Philippians 4:6
DO NOT BE ANXIOUS about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
: 7
AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, will guard your hearts and your MINDS in Christ Jesus.
There is nothing to big or too small to surrender. The thing you bring cannot surprise or bore our God. He is wholeheartedly invested in your life. He made you.
In surrender lies our peace, our joy, our longed-for relationship with the God of the universe. Not rocket science, just a few words and an honest heart.
Thank you for sharing this with me! Until we speak again.
Written by Johanni Meiring
Johanni Meiring 