For years I struggled with rest and doing small things. If I took time to watch my favorite show, bake cookies, flip through a magazine I’d feel a twinge of guilt. I’d hear somewhere inside me, “Shouldn’t you be doing something more productive/meaningful/astounding?” On the good days, I’d swat those thoughts away like a fly and carry on. On the bad days, I’d get up and work myself into a frenzy trying to prove my worth.
Yet over time God began to change my mind set about the small things in life. I realized when I paused to rest, to play, to laugh, to enjoy a blessing…it was an act of worship. Those small things declared these big truths:
God is in control and I am not.
I trust him enough to not micromanage every minute of my life.
I am humbling myself and doing “human things” because it reminds me there’s only One who is divine.
My worth is secure because of Who I belong to and that means I don’t have to prove it by how much I can produce.
A few days ago our dog came home with a tick. In an attempt to prevent future pests, I put a treatment on her and she had an allergic reaction to it. Our normally peaceful beagle-basset hound {aka “bagel”} wandered the house like she’d had a pot of coffee. Nothing we could do would make her rest. Finally we realized what happened and gave her a bath. She soon settled down again.
This morning I glanced out the window and my dog was sprawled out spread eagle on her back in the sun. I smiled and thought, “She can rest because she knows her master will take care of her.” My dog was declaring that life was good at our house. Her endless pacing broke my heart. Her rest brought me happiness.
Sure, we’re not beagle-bassets and our lives are far more demanding. But I think there’s something to be learned here: How we rest reflects to the world how we believe our master treats us.
So embrace the small. Dare to rest. Ask yourself this scary question: How can I do less today?
XOXO
