Back in December, I was determined to start the new year on fire, with determination, going full blast into my goals, to start the month off with all my goals planned out, but as I took time off for the holidays, the slower pace was so amazing that I felt led to keep that slow pace for the whole month of January. When I did that, so many other things lined up without me striving for them. I had pushed so hard before the holidays with a new paint collection and holiday collection, teaching painting classes, all while recovering from surgery.
I was to take time to rest and spend more intentional time with God. I was to lean in and listen to what he was speaking. While, I still did some work, I really embraced that rest.
Over the years, I have learned that rest is extremely important. We can see in the book of Genesis, that God himself rested. We can see Jesus an his disciples rested after teaching and traveling a lot. They needed to be replenished and refreshed. We can see that Jesus said,
“Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden
(weighted down with or as if with a heavy burden : OPPRESSED, BURDENED)
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28 – 30 ESV
So, here is the dilemma we have: we feel always feel there is so much to do and no time to rest. We are wives, moms, sisters, daughters, have businesses, work full time, going to school, etc. We feel we gotta go, go, go…
But 
– We are tired/exhausted
– We many times are unfulfilled
– We lack direction
– We feel heavy with weight
– We have trouble sleeping
– We don’t have energy
– We feel depleted
– Our minds are cluttered
– We have no peace
– We crave time with God
– We want to grow spiritually
– We feel that there is not enough time in the day
– We want our dreams and visions to come to life
– We face burnout
So we end up distracted, unfocused, not accomplishing all that matters anyhow feeling like we are spinning our wheels AND haven’t been able to connect the dots to what our soul is really craving.
REST.
True REST.
We decide “I’VE got this” and continue approaching life in our own strength. We gotta realize that through REST in the Father, is where we find refreshment, replenishment, restoration, direction, and so much more. We are not physically or mentally capable of doing everything, God comes in and completes us.
So if we can shift our thinking and stand on the truth that in order to accomplish his will for our life, we need rest. We need to sit with him and slow down. We need space to think and dream and be. Our souls long to be in partnership with its creator. Our hearts long to be connected to the Father.
We can CHOOSE to give ourselves permission to rest. Its a choice we have to consistently make and then take note of how we feel when we do rest.We will be so glad we did.
Soul rest looks different from sleeping or falling on the couch after a long day. Soul rest isn’t about what you do, its a “place” you go. Try meditating on that, asking God to go deeper with you and give you deeper revelation of what soul rest looks like. Ask him to help you in this area. Sure, its about being, and slowing down, but when you are able to truly go after God for him to fill you up, strengthen you, give you hope, awaken you, you show up in life a whole lot better.
We are REAL AMAZING WOMEN and in order to continue going and serving, we gotta enter into soul rest. We can’t give from an empty cup. In order to continue doing what God calls us to, we gotta go to him to rest our souls.
“Jesus told his disciples, “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace.
Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace.
Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!”
John 14:27 TPT
This world can not give us peace. When we can come to a place to understand that, we will know The Truth. Peace and calmness in our spirit comes from resting in God.
Resting with God.
Casting our cares upon him as we surrender things out of our control. When we rest with him we begin to understand what trusting him feels like. He is able to speak to us, lead us, give us new revelation, open us up to things we can’t do on our own and so much more.
He gives us peace.
His LOVE is peace.
His Love and peace allows our soul to rest and we begin to crave those moments with him because we will know and understand that coming out of this place, is where we operate the best. When I get out my rhythm of resting in him, my soul longs for Him, my spirit craves it, I feel scattered, I feel like I’m missing my absolute best friend, I feel a bit lost, I feel disconnected.
I even get grumpy or frustrated at times. But when I enter back into it, there is this breath of fresh air that sweeps over me, comforts me, overwhelms me, fills me, speaks to me, loves me, and so much more. I encourage you to keep seeking him and enter into that place. Nothing in this world can fill us like Him 
Much Love,
Charleston Artist | Writer | Photographer 