Rest.

So today I realized I need some serious rest.

We took the kids to a hockey game last night with our good friends. We all had a great time, and I knew going into it that the kid’s bedtime would be later than usual. But what I did not anticipate was that after putting the kids to bed, I was going to catch a very temporary and sudden case of insomnia and stay up until nearly 1:00am watching DVR’d shows I’d missed while watching grown men throw down on the ice for two plus hours. Why is it that people like hockey? I forget.

So I am tired today. Have been all day. But if I’m honest, I’ll admit that it has much less to do with a late night and much more to do with all the pressures I am feeling right now to get all my “stuff” done. Yes, it’s important stuff. But it is making me truly exhausted.

So today as I was in my bathroom getting ready for the day, all my weariness hit me at once. As is my custom, I was taking inventory of the things pressing down on me and formulating plans to get them all done -- methodically, matter-of-factly, with the goal in mind. It was then that the plan took an unexpected turn, and I started to cry. Surprised at my reaction, I went straight to my Father with my tears.

Me(the frustrated and emotional one): “Lord, I can’t make this stuff happen. It’s just not possible. (Listing things off…) How can I do this…and that…and the other…and then this…and something else? I just can’t do it. I simply cannot do it all.”

Him (the strong, yet soft spoken One): “Lisa, rest. Just rest.”

A woman of logic, I immediately began to protest this suggestion.

Me (the stubborn and opinionated one): “But Lord, you know I can’t stop and rest. I have deadlines. I have people counting on me. I have to keep going, and I don’t have time to rest. Why on earth would you suggest that I do that when I am just telling you how much I have to do?”

Him (the omni-scient and oh-so-patient One): “Because you need it.”

Far be it from me to be sarcastic with God, but I really felt like inserting the word, Duh, here. Instead, though, I stopped…paused…and let His words sink down into my soul. Because, well…God doesn’t say anything that isn’t stop-worthy, if you know what I mean. Suddenly I knew He wasn’t talking about getting physical sleep. I knew the kind of rest He was talking about was the supernatural kind of rest that requires much more than 10 solid hours of much needed shuteye.

Girls, I need rest, but it is of the spiritual kind.

I am hosting an event tomorrow night that is very important to me…and I need rest. My new book needs to sell well or my writing career may well be derailed…and I need rest. Pretty new to this blog thing, I want to increase my hits…and I need rest. My website is outdated and needs a bit of a facelift…and I need rest. I have two big conferences coming up that I am speaking for and I have not finished preparing for them…and I need rest. My husband needs me…my kids need me…the housework needs me…the oven needs me…my girlfriends, and my family, and my church needs me…and I need rest. My life is demanding…and busy…and calendared…and crazy…and I need rest.

So re-reading Matthew 11:29 today has been like putting aloe vera on a really bad sunburn. Competely necessary...badly needed…seriously wanted…and immediately soaked in…

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (The Message)

There is no better salve than truth, is there? And no better sound to fall asleep by. So, I’m off to bed now, after a sleepless night and a really long day. My soul needs some serious ZZZZZ’s. For some reason, I doubt I will need my noise maker to help me fall asleep.

Lisa :)