He Calls Us To Rest

I am past the point of exhaustion today. It's funny when we get emotionally drained how it takes so much out of you. And I continue to hear God ask me to rest. He is telling me I need to rest up for what is next. Because soon I will hit the floor running and not have a chance to take care of myself as He is giving me at this moment in time. I find that very hard to do. I feel guilty, but most of all lazy.
But I know I need to. I can feel my entire body and mind telling me enough already. Just stop! I know I've stated before that when I left this past weekend from visiting my son, I was told to go home and take care of myself. And I really haven't done that. I've always put myself last. It didn't matter if I was struggling, I would try and push on. I can say there have been a few instances where I've tried to take a breather when I felt so overwhelmed and it's backfired. And I can honestly say at a certain point in my life I was the same way. I would see someone going through a hard time and I wanted to say enough already. Suck it up. That's what I've done and I'm doing okay. Really? Yeah I was doing just fine. I was shoving and stuffing as fast as I possibly could. I had no energy and was not able to concentrate. And I'm starting to feel that way again.
We live in a society where everything is fast paced and I want it now. And if we do take some time to rest for ourselves, we seem as if we are not strong or even lazy. Do we ever really stop and think that we or the people around us are being asked to take a season of rest. That there is a genuine purpose for it. And sometimes we ignore God enough that He just decides He will find a way to make us rest by sickness or illness. He finds more subtle ways to get our attention.
In fact He did that a few years back. I had a major surgery. I was barely able to walk when I got home due to most of my stomach being cut open. The day after I was released, my husband of course needed to work. We are self-employed. There's no money coming in if he stays home. My sister couldn't make it down due to her job and I didn't want to bother anyone to help me. So what did I do. I decided I was going to get better right away. I pushed and pushed myself till I was walking around and able to do things for myself. I really didn't have a choice. But it comes down to asking for help. Something in which I refuse to do. It's the same with the rock wall I talked about in another blog.
I don't know which season God is calling you to right now but I'm sure if you listen long enough to your body, it will tell you. When God calls us to do certain things, He is going to give us the energy to sustain what we need to do. But if you are at the point of exhaustion and getting upset easily, then it's time to take a step back and see what God is saying. This may just be your season of rest. And by that I don't mean going to bed and sleeping all day long, but pressing in to God and taking quiet times throughout the day. Choosing events that you can give up to be home a little bit more. Ask for help where you can.
As I'm typing this, I realize I need to really take this advice. I honestly do not want God to make me rest. I want to do it on my own. It's so much easier that way. He knows what my needs are. I just need to listen, submit and be obedient.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him." Psalm 62:5 (NIV)