It had been three long days of much fun, excitement, giddiness, rides, characters, and brothers. There were still four more to go.
While waiting in line for the “Tikki Birds”, for which no one shared the same excitement level with their mother because it was part of my own childhood Disney memory, I snapped a photo of this tired girl.
She just needed a break. A little rest. Some time to be restored. A few hours in the pool just splashing around or laying in her bed watching the “Fox and the Hound”.
Jason and I are coming out of a torrential downpour of a conflict that rocked us to the core and forced us to examine every move we made through the lens of the Bible.
It was more than exhausting. Our souls were thirsty and tired and it showed everywhere – in our marriage, the way we interacted with our children, how we spoke to others. It was like a tumor with tentacles that were further reaching than we could ever have imagined when it all began.
It all took a toll and we needed a Sabbath.
And yes, I will be writing more about this but for right now, I’m praying over how to best convey this refiner’s fire of a path.
My word for this new year is “obedience” and there was no question last week that my Heavenly Father was calling me to rest. To restore. To “get back to the basics and get right with God.” I sang Lucinda Williams’ song almost constantly (entitled “Get Right With God”).
I’m currently working through Beth Moore’s newly-revised study of David and in last week’s teaching DVD, she mentioned that she tried to find an etymological connection between the words “wrestle” and “rest”. She couldn’t find one (to which she exclaimed it was such a missed opportunity!) but did say that following a period in which we wrestle, we must always rest.
Oh, have we wrestled but oh, did we rest.
For we know that He has a plan and it’s good (Jeremiah 29:11 with Romans 8:28) and even this dark period will be used for His glory.
Because that’s the way He rolls.
I’m linking up with “Word Filled Wednesday” from Internet Cafe Devotions and “Scriptures and a Snapshot” at Katie Lloyd Photography
I went through a period of time where anytime I had a vacation (Christmas, Thanksgiving, any national holiday) I got seriously (flat on my back) ill. It then occurred to me that I was going, going, going with no intentions of ever stopping for rest…and God was supplying (okay, demanding) that I stop and rest…even if it meant making me sick to get me there. I find it interesting that the more I am conscious of my need for rest the less I am ill from germs or stress. Interesting how God’s plans work so well. HA!
Hi, I popped in for Word-Filled Wednesday and enjoyed reading several of your posts. Loved your photo of your little ones and what a great illustration it makes. Praying for you for wisdom, encouragement, and rest. :)
Ahhhhhhh….rest….it eludes us, even on vacation and it often takes the Divine wake up call doesn’t it?? This was fantastic…and so was the one below it…BOY, I mean GIRL, have I been there!!! SO good….we are all a work in progress…
hugs and peace,
lori
Oh how my heart was there last week. I wrote about it, too…finding rest. Not the physical rest as your girl needed, but the rest from the anxious turmoil from within me. He gave it to me…’cause that IS how He rolls!
Here’s to finding rest in Him!
By the way, now He’s teaching me physical rest…with a house filled with flu.
I look forward to reading the rest of your journey.
Rest from wrestling… we don’t seem to give it to ourselves do we… especially when we don’t feel we’re measuring up. And, when you’re a woman… a mom and a wife we don’t feel we’re measuring up a lot, do we?! I feel you sweet sister… I think that same tumor has latched itself onto me too and boy am I grateful that He has a plan for me outside of the messes that am faithful to make. I read the beginning of your post about the ripped pants too and I really think we might be soul sisters in this moment :) praying for us both and claiming the promise Isaiah 26:3… “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” And, Father we do trust you! Blessings!