There are days where I lose stillness.
More than quiet. More than neatness. More than being alone.
It’s stillness of mind.
Most days my mind works on hyper-drive — racing from thought to thought to thought to thought. And as it races I begin to race from thing to thing to thing to thing. And then as I’m racing around I begin to think that I’m late or behind or I need to do this or I must do this or is the laundry is done or the bills need to be paid or I need to start dinner or the kids need new shoes or the lawn is scraggly or I haven’t done my quiet time yet or there are crumbs on the floor or the kids are yelling outside or I need to have a garage sale or I’ll never catch up or Celiac Disease overwhelms me at times or I need to exercise and or and or and or and or.
Exhausted.
All day.
It’s easy to do. I’ve got a plate {or plates} loaded with responsibilities and issues to take care of and things where I just have to wait {which is hard} and just daily life to do. I see catalogs and tv shows and blogs and others and think that I need to do all that stuff or have this or the kids need do that to be successful. I let myself compare and find myself discontent. I make myself keep busy. Moving. Trying to make up for my own insecurities.
There is no stillness in that. Only chaos.
I have to choose.
To live intentional.
Being still.
So I stop. I grab my luke-warm decaf coffee in the yellow Duluth mug and slip out to the deck. I sit down on the worn top step — a step in need of staining — and stare at the garden in front of me watching as the summer breeze rocks the pea blossoms back and forth. The setting sun dips into the horizon, and as it does the world is illuminated in it’s late light splendor. The kids are laughing in the background as they kick the half-inflated blue and white soccer ball around the yard. I choose to sit. And close my weary eyes.
Lord, let me place these anxieties, these worries, these comparisons at your feet. You know my needs, you know my heart. Fill me with the peace that only you can give. Let me be still.
The list of things to do slows down. Becomes blessings.
This world and all it’s urgent agendas begins to fade with the setting sun.
Now, at this moment there is stillness.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. {Romans 12:2}
20 comments
Great post! I relate very well to this. I always feel behind. I think if I get up earlier or get this done or that done, then I can be still…it doesn’t happen.
You are right, it is only through prayer that we get there.
If that’s not enough to make one a believer, what is?
So glad you found stillness…a beautiful, breathtaking Selah moment and your stillness sounds lovely. I do so love the pause moment!! Okay… so i’m off to find mine. I’m grabbing a cup of tea and going to sit in the late afternoon sun 🙂 … the birds are calling … catch you later.
Beautiful post, and I love how you included your photos in it. Visually you were telling a story, too. Did Hannah take them?
Oh, I SO relate! This is me. I would do well to take those moments to just stop, pray, and rest in Him. Thanks for the reminder.
Liz in CA
@SWRLiz
We have hope because He is risen! Always praying!
Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
Prayer Bears
My email address
This was perfect. Thank you for this. I think as Moms we tend to always be on that “going-going-going” mode and forget to be still. Loved this post 🙂
One night I realized how overwhelming life can be when I could not get through one Hail Mary without my own mind interrupting me. I still have to work on settling down so that I can just think one uninterrupted thought. It is hard, and frustrating. I have been intentionally slowing my life down but I have an unhealthy habit of letting the activities, and playdates and classes creep back in…
Thank you, Rachel…I truly needed this reminder today.
Blessings (and STILLNESS) be yours today. 🙂
Wow, this post was incredibly powerful to me. I could identify tremendously. I’ve been on short term disability since January (I have cystic fibrosis and have been hospitalized about six times since then) and during the well times I find myself doing load after load of laundry, target runs for groceries or miscellaneous 5 year old boy things, preschool drop off and pick up, breakfasts, dinners, cleaning and to a degree I find myself fearing that stillness that you speak of for what will come pouring in…but during the times I allow God to hold my hand and steer me to the stillness, it is the most beautiful experience in the world. I yearn for that stillness, yet I fight that stillness. I really needed this post today.. Thank you.. The photos are gorgeous and the words are very powerful.
Tara
I have felt the exact same way this week!! Great post!
Like many of the other commenters, I could’ve written this post today. How great is our God, that He brings peace and stillness in the midst of the storm!
What a beautiful reminder that we all need to find a worn top step to sit on everyday and just be still with our God. Thank you!
Such a wonderful reminder for today.
First, you are so beautiful!!!!! Gorgeous pictures of one hot mama – inside and out! : )
That is my daily verse… I put it on repeat in my mind bc I have to preach it to myself nonstop.
Great perspective in this post. I’m constantly learning (I guess it will be a lifelong journey!) to see everything through the perspective of Christ and His work on the cross. What peace/joy/contentment/blessing that brings!
It’s tough battling what needs to be done and what should be done and what you just want to get done. I find myself distracted a lot with laundry, dishes and just general cleaning and I realize that I am neglecting time with my little ones. Sometimes I just need to refocus on what is the most important…family. Thank you for putting it into words.
perfect reminder that is very needed… thanks for posting!
Oh yes Rachel ~be still~ with your yellow mug filled with luke warm decaf. Enjoy. Hear the truth from God’s word when you’re eyes are closed and you can reflect on HIM. On the truth. In your adorable family.
This year has been a year of letting go of all my lists and letting God direct my days, my life, my family. To let go. To trust. And yes, to be still and let HIM do the work. It’s a hard place to let myself get to as I think *I* need to be busy doing, going, being. But HE showed me that being still was the best place *I* could be.
What great truths.
~hugs~ Cinnamon
thank you 🙂
praying you find more moments like this this week…precious to our hearts.
His blessing upon you all.
Hope you had a good Sunday!
These verses are so comforting. Continuing to pray!!!!!!!!!
Revelation 21:1-4 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Prayer Bears
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Beautiful… choices. I love that. Time is precious, and letting go of what we think we have to do and doing what we really need to do is hard sometimes. You have the most beautiful eyes by the way.