Rest and Work in faith

     Today, I write from the North Carolina Outer Banks. It's been a bit crazy but mostly, it's just been lovely. So far it's been too cold to swim. I'm hoping it will warm up a bit because I want to swim before we leave. Mostly, it's just been strange to me. We didn't go on holiday last year for obvious reasons and the last couple times my family and I have gone on vacation, they were road trips. We'd only have a couple days in a place before we needed to move on. Being here and just... staying here is foreign to me. I've never considered myself to be particularly active but I have such a desire to go out and do something, you know? Still, I'm glad to be away. Family has been dramatic lately and work has definitely kept me busy. I don't feel I've quite earned a vacation because I'm only just hitting my sixty days this week but it is nice to take a break. Please don't think me silly for complaining about a holiday; I know I'll have a good time, I just need to stop overthinking and enjoy myself. 

    That's kind of what I want to talk about today. God tells us frequently to rest, to lay our worries and fears and anxieties down. In Genesis, it says that God rested in order to set an example for us. I don't know what it is in me that wants to be busy and doing things. Perhaps it's my humanity or the way I was raised but there are times when just sitting can be stressful for me. I want to be useful. Where I work, there can be long moments of downtime when there really isn't much to do. There especially, I can get frustrated because I'm being paid to work but there isn't work to be done. Again, a ridiculous thing to be complaining about but something I feel deeply. I want to honor the people that put their faith in me, I want to prove myself I guess. 

    I think we do that with God too sometimes. I've talked so much about how great His love is. As I continue through Acts, I'm so amazed by the faith and community of the early church and it's because Jesus' love and sacrifice was so real for them, so close. They weren't afraid because they knew that God's love and purpose was greater than anything else they would face. Unfortunately, we don't have that kind of faith today. Of course, there are always exceptions and I hope one day to have faith like Peter and Paul but for now it feels so small. There are so many people that feel like we need to prove ourselves worthy of God's love and purpose rather than just accepting that it's right there for us already. And while faith without works is dead, so are works without faith (James 2). We spend so much time trying to prove ourselves to someone who already believes in us and who already has a plan for us if we would just let Him take priority in our lives. And this isn't to say that God won't work everything for good, that's what He promises in Romans 8, but my hearts desire is to live in God's love and trust Him without leaving my hands on anything.

    We were loved before we knew what love was. We don't have to prove ourselves. I've probably talked about this before but rest is important as much as works are important but just as our works are to be done in faith, I think our rest should be too. In Matthew 11, Jesus promises when we accept what God has for us, we'll find our rest in Him. "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." God always keeps His promises. We won't find Him in our try but, rather, in our surrender. He'll give us rest when we're weary and strength when we need it. We don't have to overthink or overcomplicate His love for us, we can just rest in it. 

    This week, try to find time to rest intentionally, whether it is with God or not. Since last year, hard things have felt harder. There's so much to give us stress and anxiety, believe me, I know. And though resting will not make those things go away, you'll feel better for taking that time. Sit down with a book or a movie, have a cup of tea, listen to your favorite songs, take a walk or take a nap. Whatever it looks like for you, just take a break intentionally. Most importantly, don't get in your own way. Let yourself enjoy the time you have to just breathe. Lay down your burdens if only for a little while. Set your anxieties aside for something lighter. I feel like I always say this but I really don't have it all figured out but I do know that it will be okay. You'll be okay. There is unbelievable grace and love on your life, bigger than you could ever dream. Find peace in that, let that give you rest. 

    I wish you all the best! Thank you so much for reading. 

Yours Truly,

Rey.