Rest...

I watched my daughter and her little buddy play full force today.  It wore me out just being in their midst. 

Their energy was so fun and their laughter was good for my soul.

At one point they were running circles around one another and then dropping to the floor in a spat of giggles. 

This continued for several minutes, me laughing with them, enjoying their innocence and pure playfulness. 

Their cheeks were pink and sweat was forming on their brow.  Emma even got the hiccups from all the jostling around.  But they were having so much fun together.

Finally, without any prompting, one dropped to the floor and proceeded to lay down.  The other followed suit.  Both of these young wild banshees lay looking up to the ceiling in silence, their little chests heaving trying to catch their breath.  They were still and quiet.  Resting.  This too lasted a few minutes, far longer than one would expect from a one and two-year-old.

And  then back up they were hopping and playing once again.

As I watched them I was astounded at how smart they both were.  At such young ages they both knew when they were tired.  So they took a break, calmed themselves and then their bodies were ready for another round of play.

I was reminded how too often we as adults aren't even that aware of when we need to rest and take breaks as well. 

We go and we go, we worry to wits end, we ponder the what-ifs, the whens and the whys, never once allowing ourselves to be calm and renewed.  This world has conditioned us that we must be the best, be first and be all in every aspect of our lives.  However, despite this mentality, we more often end up tired, apathetic and spent physically, emotionally and spiritually out of the deal.

I'm also reminded what good it would do us if we dropped to the floor and looked up every once in a while. 

Just as Emma and her friend found rest in the simple, so too would we find rest there as well.

 Psalm 91:1 says, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

All it takes is for us to drop to our knees and look to our Heavenly Father then we will find rest.  For He knows our hearts, our every need, concern and prayer.  No matter what burdens us, we can find peace in Him.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28- 30, "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 my 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."

Find rest in the simple.

There is nothing complicated about the message of Jesus.  He came to this world to die the most gruesome of deaths for you and for me, so that we may have life eternal with Him.  All this despite our junk and our sin and our worries and our woes.  That's how much we are loved by our God.

That's good news, yes?

 So...

With that simple yet astounding truth, my prayer is that you may find in Him the rest you've been looking for.