Finding Real Rest in an Unrestful Time

As the two week stay-at-home order turned into two months, the novelty of staying home soon wore-off. Beyond the fear of catching COVID19, staying at home- once a source of relaxation and safety, has become a great source of anxiety and anguish.

A cage instead of a refuge.

Thankfully, quarantine is almost over, and most states are starting to relax social distancing guidelines. However, the normalcy and carefreeness we all used to enjoy...hasn't returned yet, and no one knows if it ever will.

Businesses are enforcing new policies and many people are still without jobs. Will staying 6 feet away continue to be the norm? Will everyone be required to wear masks when they go grocery shopping from now on? Will our temperature be taken at the door as soon as we arrive to work? And don't even get me started on education and childcare.

People may be surviving COVID19, but it has left our society in chaos. Our world is not the same and great fear still lingers in the air.

How can anyone find peace during this uncertain time? A time where home is no longer a refuge. A time where our enemy is invisible.

Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Rest....

This word can often be replaced with peace.

After all, peace is rest of the soul.

And isn't that was we all desire deep down? Rest for our souls.

But how do we come to Jesus?

Most people would say: "PRAY"!

But I've already prayed ten-zillion times, and my anxiety hadn't gone anywhere.

But honestly... my prayers had been more of a one-sided monologue.

A mini-panic attack just ranting to God.

Prayer is supposed to be a dialogue with a speaker and a listener. Maybe that's why my prayers didn't seem to work?

I wasn't listening.

But few weeks ago, God forced me to listen to Him...

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I've never been a bird person or a bird watcher, but one day several of them were hopping along in my backyard, slurping up worms. I never knew I had so many worms out there. They would chirp one of their songs and then flutter freely back to their home. Hop. Slurp. Hop-hop. Slurp-slurp. Chirp-chirp-chirp.Then fly away. This pattered continued for quite a while. I got to see all kinds of beautiful birds. It was a very calming and entertaining thing to watch.

And as I watched the birds, a piece of scripture popped into my head.

Matthew 6:26-27 "Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying?"

I thought, "Aren't I worth more than these birds? Is worrying helping me live any better?"

God had finally gotten my attention. I finally started listening to Him.

My burdens began to dissipate and I started entering His rest.

Now when I feel the heavy yoke of fear around my neck, I think of the birds.

I am reminded of how I don't have to carry this burden, that He will supply all my needs just as He does for the birds.

Worrying isn't helping me live my best days. In fact, it's stealing my days.

Entering into God's rest is the only way to reclaim them.

Jesus has very broad shoulders.

If He can carry my sins...and the sins of the WORLD,

then He can carry my burdens too.

Cast all your cares upon Him, enter into His rest,

and find peace for your soul.

He waits earnestly to make our burdens light.