rest

What does rest look like to you? For me, physically it means to get a good amount of sleep each night, it means to relax and unwind, it means to not be so busy that I make myself crazy. I know it probably means something similar to some people, but it probably means something else entirely for you. 

There is another type of rest, though, the kind that is mentioned above and that's where I'm going to camp out today. I find myself most at peace when I am resting in the Lord, when I am trusting in Him. As a believer, this means that no matter what may come, I can rest that the Lord knows what He is doing and I can trust His perfect plan. I'm doing a Bible study right now on biblical womanhood and as I did the last day of homework yesterday, that was something the author mentioned—that I can live a surrendered life of service to the Lord. I can live life saying yes to Him and whatever His plan is for me. 

I know that even when hard times come, I can rest in Him. I can trust that He has a plan that was already set in motion before I was even a thought in anyone's head. I know that when things are uncertain, God already knows my future. I know that when times are scary, they've not taken the Lord by surprise. Do you get what I'm saying here? I can rest in the Lord. I do not want to live my life in fear of any of those things. We're still living in some crazy times (not as bad as when the Old Testament history took place) and I could easily let that dictate how I live life. Resting in the Lord is life giving. I am choosing not to live my life in that way. I am choosing to live surrendered to Him in every circumstance, resting assured that He has got me in His hands, no matter what. 

I have a dear friend who is undergoing surgery today for her cancer and I know she would say the same thing. She is resting in the Lord and trusting that He has got her in the palm of His hand. He's loving on her, He is caring for her and meeting every need she has, and He is ministering to her through the lives of her friends and their friendship. We got to meet outside at her house last night to pray over her before her surgery today and we ended our time together singing her favorite hymn together, because it's her anthem. "Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul." It was the sweetest time together last night and I think it was a tremendous blessing for her family to see her army of friends standing in the gap with her as she faces whatever her future holds. If you think of her, will you say a prayer for my friend Wendy? 

I'll include a picture so that you can have a face to go along with her name.

This was taken a couple years ago on a one night choir trip. We shared a hotel room and became the new kind of friends as we saw each other with no makeup, in pajamas and fell asleep watching a Hallmark Christmas movie. 

Thanks for reading, friends. Love to all. ❤ 

(This was another writing prompt for those of us at #hopewriterlife.)