Time to R.E.S.T.: Release, Enjoy, Surrender, Trust

These past few years I’ve been in a season of transition full of change and loss. I am now a mom of two adult children. My babies have grown up. Talk about a shift in parenting! I’ve struggled with not knowing where to go or what to do next in this life chapter. My marriage has changed. I am a woman in my mid 40’s and there are definitely changes that accompany that. In these transition years I’ve found myself asking, now what? Who am I now? What do I do? Where do I go? The answer has become clear throughout these years. REST. I rest. Now is the time to REST. Stop striving, stop doing, stop trying to figure it all out and just BE. Not rest like lying on the bed watching TV and my life pass by but a different kind of rest. The world tells us to rest is lazy. It says that we can have it all, do it all, that busy is better. The word says to rest is best. My flesh and this world tell me I need to figure it all out. God is telling me to STOP and REST! To lean in to Him and He will see me through. It has taken time to really wrap my brain around what it means to rest. Here are some principles I’m practicing while I R.E.S.T.

Release- Release my “boys” to go out and become the men God has created them to be. Release control. Release fear. Release anxiety. Release doubt. Release worry. Release striving.

EnJOY- Find my JOY. Be grateful for what is. Be present. Life is meant to be lived and enjoyed.

Surrender – Give my life to God. Be obedient to his instructions and assignments. Go when he says go. Stop when he says stop. His will not mine.

Trust- BELIEVE with all my heart that God has me where I am meant to be and no matter what my life circumstances are I can have 100% faith that His will be done.

So, I rest. Releasing, enjoying, surrendering and trusting. Will you join me?

Shine bright,
Teresa

“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.” Matthew 11:28-30