Finding Rest

I'd planned for today to be a "productive" one. I had all sorts of errands and chores planned for myself after church this morning. I was going to go shopping for an outfit to wear to an upcoming wedding, I was going to clean out closets and sort through clothes to give to Goodwill, I was going to search various websites for the best airline fares for my trip to D.C.

But after several days of glorious springlike weather, today was cold and rainy, altogether dreary. And instead of spending my afternoon shopping and cleaning and buying airline tickets, I took a nap. It's been a while since I've had a good, long Sunday afternoon nap. Boy, did it feel good. Boy, did I need it, not just for my physical body, for my soul as well.

Too often I measure my "productivity" by how many activities I can cram into my day. I make to-do lists and take great satisfaction in marking each accomplishment off with a bold sweep of the pen. On days where I start a half-dozen tasks at work and don't complete a single one, I feel like a failure. Currently I'm working on the next issue of our magazine at work, which normally would be at the printer by now. Due to some extenuating circumstances, it will probably be a couple of weeks before it goes to print, which is frustrating to me. I feel like I haven't been productive enough.

This need to feel "productive" extends to my spiritual life as well. If I haven't studied my Bible today or spent a long time in prayer, then I feel like I haven't been productive for God. I'm constantly wanting to make the most of today, to take advantage of the time that God has given me and not squander it. But what if He's not calling me to read 17 chapters? What if He's calling me to rest, to relax?

I can mark a zillion things off my to-do list and still not accomplish what God has called me to do. Sometimes He calls us to act. Sometimes He calls us to rest. Today, I need rest.

"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 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." Matthew 11: 28-30

Hoping that you have found the rest your soul needs,
Lisa