Be Still and Rest

Do you ever feel like your life is moving so fast you don't have time to stop and enjoy it?

Do you ever feel like all you do is play catch-up?

Are you tired, weary and burned-out?

Do you want to slow down, but aren't sure what to give up?

A few months ago, I was diagnosed with a blood disorder that has caused me to slow down and assess the priorities in my life. I have a great doctor who is helping me manage the condition with medicine. Along with the medicine, my doctor has recommended that I reduce stress and get more rest. This is MUCH EASIER said than done.

If you know me...then you know that I am the "queen of busy!" I love to be on the go and involved in everything. Working through this condition has caused me to prayerfully reflect on where I need to spend my time and energy. Over and over again, God keeps giving me the verse from Psalms 46,

"Be still and know that I am God."

This verse seems to appear everywhere I look. Being still is a challenge for me because it means surrendering everything to God and allowing him to be in charge. It means taking everything to prayer and allowing him to guide each step.

Our busy schedules allow very little time for rest and rejuvenation for our body, soul and spirit. We've squeezed so many activities into our calendars that there is barely room for Mass, much less time for true rest in the Father.

Morris says, "Today our culture of self-improvement and self-advancement through individual efforts has resulted in tens of millions living burned-out, stressed-out lives. We're never off and never unplugged. We're never quiet. We're never not bombarded by tasks, information, obligations, stimulations, and aggravations. And it's taking an enormous toll on our well-being. It's a plague of spirit, soul and body exhaustion."

Throughout the book Morris refers to the importance of the Sabbath rest in the Old and New Testaments. God wants to give us the gift of rest. This Sabbath rest is a time to unplug from the demands of the world and find activities that connect us with the Lord.

Jesus is a perfect example of someone who pulled away from the crowds and took time to rest in prayer and fellowship with God. Over and over again in the Bible we are shown the graces that come from resting in the Lord. In our busy world, we look at rest as being lazy and weak. Morris says," We are called to rest physically, but God also calls us to rest spiritually, emotionally and mentally. Honoring the principle of the Sabbath reveals a deep level of trust in God--trust that He will empower us to accomplish all that He has called us to do in six days a week, because we've been obedient and still for one." Sounds impossible, huh?

Morris suggests that we have four tanks that need to be refilled through the Sabbath rest. They are our spiritual, physical, emotional and mental tanks.

By keeping these tanks full they will overflow and allow us to bless others through our words and actions.

The demands of the world are constantly draining our tanks and causing us to live our lives in a deficit. We are called to give ourselves to others, but we can only do this if we stop and allow God to replenish our tanks.

The Catechism states, "God's action is the model for human action. If God "rested and was refreshed" on the seventh day, man too ought to "rest" and should let others, especially the poor, "be refreshed." The sabbath brings everyday work to a halt and provides a respite. It is a day of protest against the servitude of work and worship of money." (CCC 2171)

How do we find this Sabbath rest? First and foremost, it is a gift from God. The rest begins as we set aside time to worship and give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. The rest comes out of a desire to grow in our faith life as we leave behind distractions and focus on our spiritual life. The Sabbath is the Lord's day and we find joy and rest as we make Mass a priority.

The Catechism states, "The Sunday celebration of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life. "Sunday is the day on which the paschal mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in universal church." (CCC 2177 ).

This book is definitely worth reading. It is a great book to use to reflect on your own priorities and commitments. God wants to give us the "gift of REST." The book will give you an opportunity to reflect on your schedule and begin to prioritize what is truly important. 

Educators are pulled in many directions at home and at school. 

Hopefully, like me, you'll realize that God is OK with taking a time-out to rest. God has GREAT plans for each one of us, but we have to trust him to provide for us spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally by stepping away. Like Jesus, we need to pull away from the demands of the world and rest in the arms of the Father.

In the Catholic Life Coach Academy we explore the thoughts and beliefs that prevent you from experiencing the "gift of rest."