A recent afternoon found me reviewing my list of 13 projects to complete and hating the list because I knew they were impossible while still nurturing that deep desire for perfection. The final straw came when I spilled coffee down my favorite shirt and snapped at my husband for not grabbing a towel as quickly as I wanted him to. Pathetic, I know. His forgiveness and seeming inability to be hurt by my flashes of temper drive me towards change.
But nothing can rival the peace and tranquility possible in taking these frustrations with myself and talking with Jesus about them. Rather than an answer to my flaws or a list of steps to walk through, my heart was gently nudged to take a favorite quilt off the chair in the living room and retreat to our bedroom, stretching out in the glow of afternoon light and letting all those expectations of myself float away in a sea of slumber.
Somehow the action of letting my body rest found its echo in my mind and I woke awhile later to begin again, no longer weary, smiling at the world.
And this is my hope for you, too…
To those struggling to keep their eyes open, to the weary, to those who find themselves snapping in slow motion…
Rest.
Pile your burdens in the arms of the One who can carry them, pull a blanket from the pile and stumble to your bed. Simply rest, letting the stress and regrets drip away, giving peace a place to dwell.
It is this peace that will allow you to see things clearly again. Rest will bring strength and tenderness to empty places of stubborn persistence, reaching for that standard of perfectionism you’ve set for yourself.
Latest posts by Capri (see all)
- Surrender… - February 22, 2013
- To the Weary Heart… - January 24, 2013
This was lovely, Capri. Thank you!
Ah, Capri. Thank you for this.
Rest. Love it! Between school, work, and being a mommy this is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks.
Very thought provoking! =) thank you!