“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.”
Genesis 2:2
This weekend I had the awesome privilege to speak at a retreat for Single Moms. It was a phenomenal time getting to know some of these inspiring women and to hear their stories. I don’t know if there’s a harder-working or more loving group on the planet? Sadly, many are the only parent involved in their children’s lives. With this reality brings a great deal of responsibility and work. The moms were so thankful for this restful retreat where they were treated with delicious catered meals, programs for their kids and a tranquil spa experience.
In The Beginning, God set the weekly schedule for the world to include a day where everyone rested from his or her work. It’s difficult in this fast-paced culture of the 21st century to imagine a time when you feel your work is “finished”. This mindset that your work is completed at the end of a week is very foreign to the reality a single mom experiences. Many express how it feels like there is so much to do that they can never keep up. I get how they feel. My “to-do” list seems unending and I bet yours seems impossible to finish too. So, I have to ask, is God’s pattern for a restful life unrealistic in our day and age? Did God’s agenda end when shopping was allowed on Sundays? It sure seems like it in the natural, but the truth is God’s plans don’t change according to our choices or habits. In The Beginning God scheduled in rest and that is still His plan for creation.
Choose to make your life more restful, allowing time each week for a break to give your mind and body a rest.
Prayer
Father….I thank You that Your plan includes rest. Help me to fight against my cultural mindsets that cause me to feel my work is never finished. Help me to be a better representation of your image in how I take time for restful breaks. I ask for you to rewire my brain to align with your original intent and let it bring about great fruitfulness in my life. In Jesus Name…Amen
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I love this as a single mom myself. Even though my sons are now grown I remember the years that taking a Sabbath rest did not seem possible. I am learning how important it is to rest our minds and bodies. We need to seek the rest and renewal that comes from God. He will restore our souls and give us the strength to move forward. Glad to be your neighbor at Kelly’s place today.
So glad you were my neighbor at Kelly’s place too! I was a single mom too and was blessed to be the speaker. You will get how it meant more than other speaking engagements. Those women have my heart <3 Thanks for sharing Mary.
~Sherry
Sherry, I think there are several important things we have to constantly remind ourselves we must do and resting is one of them. I often have to tell myself to stop, rest, and savor the moment.
Good to hear from another “Soul Sista” who gets me 🙂 Hope you savour today!
~Sherry
This is so good, Sherry! The other day, one of my teenage daughters asked me, “How come you’re never bored?” I just had to laugh. There is ALWAYS something (usually MANY somethings) needing to be done. I’m not very good at slowing down. Thank you for this reminder to do so. God has been whispering this fairly loudly to me!
Dianne, I hear His whisper “loud and clear” too! I’ve been taking time to rest lately and finding it so wonderful. Somehow more gets done when I rest. God is good 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
~Sherry