Restless or Resting: a dichotomy.

As of late, my to-do list has been getting longer, while I struggle to cross one measly task off of that never-ending enemy. I'm running thin. I am getting overwhelmed and tired and close to tears every time I touch my planner.

WAKE UP CALL.

Time to prioritize, but here's the thing. I work and work and work and work and work. I am a full-time student, a server in a restaurant, a president of a club on campus, a licensed daycare provider, a babysitter, Kids' praise teacher, a friend, a sister, a daughter, and a soccer player. That's a lot of things, right? What I neglected to mention was I am a child of God!

In the midst of my business, I have had no time to sit and just be. No time to enjoy the presence of my Creator, the lover of my soul, and my All in All.

I am restless.

Restless. Oh, Switchfoot, sing it to my heart, over and over.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdbrDMAKToo)

My hope has become hinged on my successes, on compliments of others, on temporary satisfactions. And you know where that has left me? Tired. Striving. Empty. Wanting. Unfulfilled. And if I'm completely honest, alone.

There a few lines of this song that hit home, made me think, and are Scripturally based. Jon Foreman does a fantastic job of placing these little nuggets of "things that make you think" in his songs, and if you don't watch out, they'll get ya!

My thoughts are as follows:

Nugget #1: I am restless, I run like the ocean to find your shore

I particularly like the imagery in this line, because a tide is always reaching. You know, as a kid, when you would try to build your sandcastle as close to the water as possible, but that was risky business, because there was always a chance that the water would rush in and destroy your masterpiece. I think we are like that, too. Ebbing and flowing from feeling like we are "good enough" for Jesus. My personality requires that I work to rest in Jesus' grace for me. Incessantly, I tell myself to shift my eyes off of myself and onto my precious Jesus. He's enough.

Nugget #2: Looking for the well that won’t run dry

Even David prayed in Psalm 63:1, "O, God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters." (Isaiah 55:1). Okay, so where are these waters?? ...

"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

God is offering himself here.

Again in Revelation (22:17), we are commanded: "Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."

Nugget #3: 'til the final healing, I'm looking for you

“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Yeah. We're never gonna be satisfied 'til we're out of this world and into heaven. But take heart, because in His presence, we will forget all the crappy and rejoice in the happy for eternity (that's a long time). It's not just me saying it.... Read on!

Nugget #4: The tide of tear and pain subside
Laughter drinks them dry

Revelation 21:4 says this, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

"...And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together..." (Isaiah 40:5)

Nugget #5: 
I’ll be waiting
Anticipating
All that I aim for
What I was made for
With every heartbeat
All of my blood bleeds
Running inside me
Looking for you

You were MADE to love Jesus. Run to Him. Look to your left and to your right, there's probably others striving alongside you. Seek them, and together, seek Jesus.

Bible Gateway's commentary on John 7 says this: "When we believe, we open our hands to receive what his grace offers - we come and drink." Yes, yes, yes.

drinking = resting in His grace

And when I do, I am -
- not tired, but rejuvenated.
- not striving, but resting.
- not empty, but complete.
- not wanting, but satisfied.
-not unfulfilled, but fulfilled.
-and (if I'm completely honest) not alone, but surrounded.

Fight to find your REST in GOD. Work to rest.....irony. Take time to be, to enjoy your Creator, to marvel at all He's done (and continues to do) for you, and to love the Lover of your soul.

Are you restless or resting?

Drink up! ;)

Does God give us too much to handle?

External and internal stressors often trouble our souls. While life at times seems calm and secure, it can quickly become destabilized and unglued. As I have noted, God has not promised his children exemption from suffering; he has, however, pledged to be with us and comfort us in our trials. In his wisdom God uses life's painful misfortunes to drain us of self-sufficiency and lead us to trust and depend on him. In the mystery of providence, our difficult trials offer opportunities for healing, transformation and empowerment for service. Pain leads us to seek God and his purpose for our lives with greater intention.

Seasons of the Soul by Bruce Demarest


Growing up, my parents worked hard to give my siblings and I a comfortable life, and that's what I had. No troubles, no relationship issues, no money problems, no health issues. Carefree - like it's supposed to be! Growing up, I had no struggle with the phrase, "God doesn't give you more than you can handle."

As I braved the teenage years, I began to feel like my life wasn't in my control. There were many circumstances that left me desperately grasping for stability in my life. It was through a period of depression that I came to fight the phrase, "God doesn't give you more than you can handle."

Where in the Bible does it say that? I have come to believe that that saying is very much offered only to in attempt to appease one's suffering. But it's not true! That is not one of God's promises. Rather, He says that He will never leave us, nor will He ever forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). God is a God of His word, and we can hold firmly to that truth. We might be in rough waters, but Jesus is there. He has the power to walk on water, hold you above the waves, and calm the storm (Matthew 14:22-23).

So - what do I do with all this suffering? I look for God. It's not easy. It's a deliberate effort to look inside of myself and realize that I have found myself depending on worldly strongholds to give me peace, when Jesus is the giver of a peace that passes all understanding. When I stop and think about that, it gives me chills. I can't even comprehend or put into words how Jesus can come and calm my mind and put all of the racing thoughts of worry to a halt.

Now, when I face hard times I can tell myself to see the ways in which they are breaking me down and forcing me to rely on God even more. Think of it as a molding - of a shaping that is pushing your towards the person that God has created you to be (Genesis 1:27). It is those times I grow weary and realize "I can't do it anymore" that I can look up to God, and let Him take over once again. So often, I try to creep back in the driver's seat, and do things myself and in my own way. Painful, confusing parts of life lead us back to the one Truth that will never change.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)

LIFE might give you too much to handle, but GOD will give you rest. Commit all of your hurt, your issues, your depression, your "too much for me to handle" situations, your "I can't do this anymore" scenarios, and give them to the Father of all. Find rest for your soul in the One who holds all things in His mighty hands. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”