THE WHISPERS BEFORE THE SHOUT

Hey you! 😃

Has anyone checked in on you today? Or better still have YOU checked on you today, or lately? If not, well then this is a reminder to do so; to create time in your schedule to hold your heart, mind, body and soul as an offering to God in prayer and allow it to be searched, comforted, and mended so that you can operate wholly and holy. Quarter one of 2025 is coming to an end; a palpable shift hangs in the air with testimonies within it being starkly different. For some, the journey has been a smooth glide, a serene cruise through calm waters. For others, they are overwhelmed by life having launched into a sprint at the beginning of the year; and now, they are finding themselves breathless amidst a landscape of boundless potential.

I discovered something interesting lately; while many of us are knowledgeable of the truth and necessity of slowing down, there is a fear and guilt attached to this God ordained activity called rest. We are afraid to rest because we fear that if we take our foot off the gas, our whole life will come falling apart. We feel like the only time we are allowed to rest is when we are so exhausted that it’s the only option. We equate rest to idleness and our self worth becomes attached to activity rather than repose. In the end, we shun away rest and thus conclude there is no safe place to rest.

Rest should be adopted as a healthy behaviour - a part of your daily routine.  When you’re well rested, you’re passionate, fun and light-hearted. Life can get real  and you can choose to either shut down and detach or dare to do the work that keeps your heart open to how God can show up in real life. Some days you are a warrior, some days you are a mess. Most days you are a little bit of both. But every single day, you are still here-standing, fighting, healing, growing, and trying... and that is beautiful.

However, today my heart is for the warrior who has always stood at the forefront with their strength as a shield against the world. You've been the one holding the line. Your resilience has become a familiar comfort. But what if, just for today, you could lay down your armour? If you've spent a lifetime carrying the weight of being strong, constantly facing the battles, this is an invitation to step back. You've become so accustomed to the fight, to weathering every storm, that you might not even notice the quiet wounds. Today, I invite you to open your heart to a new kind of strength – the strength found in vulnerability. Even the strongest need rest. Let God gently mend what's been broken and offer a new heart that isn't solely defined by battle. Allow Him to guide you to a place of peace and give you a spirit that can heal and breathe. It's a sign of wisdom to know when to stand firm and when to find sanctuary.

We're often so focused on the 'to-do' list, the hustle, the grind. But what if we gave equal weight to the 'to-be' list? What if we gave the same attention to planning our rest, our moments of peace, the care we give to ourselves, and the sleep that restores us? The truth is, 'you can't pour from an empty cup' isn't just a cliché; it's a fundamental truth. I believe our bodies whisper to us when we need to pause. Sometimes, those whispers become loud shouts when we desperately need to step back and replenish. It's not a weakness; it's a sacred rhythm. For us as believers, rest is a beautiful surrender; an expression and recognition of God's sovereignty over our lives.

Even Jesus understood the necessity of withdrawing to recharge. Luke 5:16 says it this way, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed”, thus demonstrating that it's essential for our well-being. I’d like to emphasise the word “often”. In layman’s language he withdrew and prayed many times on different occasions. I tend to think Jesus is an example of what it means to be intentional about taking care of your soul. Sometimes I think Jesus was an introvert, but that is a story for another day. Imagine the demands on his time, the crowds clamouring for his attention, the weight of the world on his shoulders. Yet, He didn't just preach and heal; he also made a conscious choice to step away. Think about the strength that must have flowed from those moments of prayer. It wasn't just about escaping the crowds; it was about connecting to the ultimate source of power and wisdom. 

Friend, Jesus' example gives us permission, doesn't it? Permission to step back, to find those quiet moments. You've been hanging on to strength for a long time; I'm giving you permission for a while, to not be strong; because “his strength is made perfect in our weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) You've been holding it together for as long as you can. The Holy Spirit wants to meet you in the place of "your strength” and show you what it means to be nurtured.

As Easter draws near, a thought has settled in my heart. It's almost like the invitation to truly rest comes before the invitation to be saved. Think about it – before we can truly find that deep, abiding peace, there's a need to address the very foundation of our being. My heartfelt prayer is that as we journey towards this significant time, if you don’t know Jesus, you will consider giving Him an opportunity to enter your life. Because the true rest we seek, the kind that truly satisfies, flows from a relationship with the One who not only offers rest but also reveals the pathways to experience it fully. And for those of us who already know Him and walk with Him, may this be a time to truly lean into that rest found in His death and resurrection. May we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, to come undone before Him with the same courage and confidence we often carry in our daily lives. May we find our ultimate rest and wholeness in the finished work of the cross and the glorious promise of the resurrection.

Speaking of finding moments of peace and rejuvenation, my husband and I recently had the pleasure of joining Cynthia and Pat-C on their 'Bed and Breakfast' podcast. We shared some insights into wedding planning on a budget, a topic that, while sometimes stressful, can also be a beautiful exercise in creativity and resourcefulness. If you're looking for a moment to unwind and enjoy some lighthearted conversation, perhaps as a gentle break from the demands of daily life, we invite you to tune in. Consider it a little 'staycation' for your mind! You can find our episode on YouTube below. We hope it brings you a moment of rest and perhaps even some helpful tips along the way.