You could probably come up with a long list of the reasons you, as a parent or wife, can’t just take a moment to rest. Believe me I could. I have found it’s not just because of my children and husband that I can’t rest. While they do keep me busy, there’s a slew of other factors that keep me far from rested.
Not only physically am I at unrest at times, but emotionally and spiritually. My soul suffers from unrest, and in part my whole life seems to be utter chaos. Everything seems to close in around me, and I am suffocated with unrest. I begin to pick up more and more burdens, instead of laying them all down at the cross. I began to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders, instead of offering up a prayer to heaven or a plea.
So for me, unrest is not coming from just my family. I want to share all the places or areas in my life that have contributed an unrest. Have made it hard for me to sit quietly and rest.
- Perhaps we can’t rest because of the pressures all around us. These would include Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, kids, husband, friends. They are all around us. Not that it’s bad to be surrounded by family and friends, but sometimes they are asking for this and that. Instagram is calling to us, offering the latest news of friends near and far, even those we have never meant, we want to know more about. We want to see into their day. It’s an addicting cycle, one I hate to admit has lured me in and has caused distruction. I can’t rest because I have to know!! The pressures to look a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain mom or wife. Pressured to have all the latest and greatest things for our families.
- Perhaps we can’t rest because of comparison. We compare ourselves to other mothers, wives, friends, daughters, runners, teachers, etc. We compare our running times, PR’s, distances, and achievements, Our weight and height to others, again even those we have never meant in person. We compare health, kids achievements, meals, income, cars and houses. We are trying to out do one another, it’s sickening. We feel we can’t let down our guards and just be real.
- Perhaps we can’t rest because of distractions. The biggest distraction for me is social media. Then my children and husband can be distractions away from what I really should be doing. Thoughts of negativity can distract me from all the good that is in my life. So I am at unrest with myself, because I lack this or I don’t have enough money for this. I am distracted by my complaining and discontent. I am distracted by feeling the need to be updated on everyone’s life, the news, the world around me. I am distracted by how much “better” everyone else seems.
- Perhaps we can’t rest because of fear and worry. This could be the fear of the unknown, the fear of man/others, of ourselves, of not having enough, not being good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough. FEAR!! It rids our lives of joy and rest. Fear strangles us, severing the spirit and soul, leaving us lifeless. We can fear so much in our lives, things that aren’t important or worth even fearing or worrying about. We have doubts that nag at us.
- Perhaps we can’t rest because of insecurities. We all have insecurities, and because of them we are in a constant battle and never rested. We build up walls because of our insecurities, we build bitterness and resentment. In securities plague our thought life, just as fear, worry and doubt do. We put too much focus on our self image, our income, our house, our outdoing everyone. We are in constant turmoil with ourselves, at unrest, thinking we don’t have what it takes.
I have fell into all these trips, these lies and my soul and spirit can’t rest. Even my best intentions to rest are plagued with unrest. I have found that I can only rest if my focus and eyes are on Jesus. If I lay it all down for Him. When I am most grateful and content. When I stop comparing and fearing the unknown. When I start celebrating with others, instead of wishing I was them. When I am happy for others achievements. When I truly believe He is the source of my joy, when I truly trust in Him to bring peace and rest. When I don’t see my challenges and circumstances as work, but rather as an opportunity to rest in Him and His embrace. To rest in His promises.
I know true rest when I value myself, all my being from my physical to my personality. When I stop trying to be good enough and when I know I am good enough.
Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit
What is the source of your unrest?