Chill Out & Rest

Come with my precious peeps and examine chapter nine, "Chill Out: Be At Rest, O My Soul", of Jennifer Rothschild's Self Talk, Soul Talk book. When you are finished reading my insight, go to Lelia's to check what others said.
Jennifer quotes author, Rob Schwarzwalder, as saying "Each soul is like a carefully wired circuit breaker than can function splendidly when operating according to its design but which, when overloaded, crackles with the sparks and shouts of a system bearing more than it can hold." Breathe. That's one long sentence but quite true. I'll give you a moment to read it again as it's a lot to chew.

My system malfunctioned and over the course of two years I was bearing more than I could hold. My system did more than cracks and pops. Flames spewed. Fires burned out of control. My body failed with ailment so discretely. My mind became clouded. My heart overcame with grief and down trotted. My spirit and personality hardened to something unrecognizable. Again, all done very slowly and discretely. Time for a major chill out. A check up. A reconditioning. A rejuvenation in my soul with my God. Unfortunately, all was not done without a major life change and massive heart break.

My eyes popped out when I read this. "Researches define burnout as a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by long-term involvement in emotionally demanding situations." Wow. That was me. Had you ever asked me, I wouldn't have recognized it as such. I was overcome with being constantly drained by discord among a few loved ones close to me. For three years, my mind never rested. Instead, the emotional pain, drama, dysfunction, and discord only intensified.

Even without focusing on the issues, in retrospect I see my mind, heart, and soul never rested but rather continually sought resolution to these concerns involving the heart, emotions, and relationships. I see now I should've found peace with no resolution, possibly saving some instead of striving to save all the relationships. I wanted all relationships fixed but I see now, I should've let go of the lesser and focused on the two God called me to: God and spouse.

What an easy target I was. Prime meat for satan....weary, straggling, tired, barely hanging on by my fingertips...susceptible to his sneaky and deceptive attacks. What's the enemy do? Kick 'em while their down.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:7-9

I should've FULLY cast my cares on Him and let go of these things. I should've been more on guard and alert, which partly comes from rest. I should've stood firm in my faith, acknowledging and resisting the enemy's attacks.

"We must choose for our wills to take a break from striving, for our minds to quiet the noise of thoughts, and for our emotions to detangle our knotted feelings." Oh, if I only knew how to do that back then. I never rested from my strive to peace relations where discord and dysfunction laid. I never rested from the detangled emotions and the entanglement of relational pain.

"You see, rest isnt' just what God did. Rest is who God is. His rest causes us to cease our striving and receive His serenity."

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

"How difficult it can seem to remain in the place of rest! Life gets busy, events domino, our nerves fray, and well, you know how that goes."

Like most all things, it takes discipline. We must discipline ourselves to rest. David tells us to rest. Find rest, O my soul, in God alone. Psalm 62:5 God alone is the great Rest Giver. He will give it but we must seek it!!

Yes to rest, no to THE rest.
"Chances are if you say yes more than no, you need to rest."

Chilling and Resting in Him,

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