Here's an excerpt from my book "Powerful Prayers for Challenging Times." The e-book is only .99 cents today through Sunday (March 5 - 8, 2015). I pray you will find the peace and relief you need.
Jackie M. Johnson
When You’re Busy and Stressed
Prayers for Peace and Rest
I will refresh the
weary and satisfy the faint.
Jeremiah 31:25
It was late when I finally finished eating dinner.
Tired and bleary-eyed from a long week at work, I opened the kitchen cupboard
to put away my spaghetti leftovers and stopped suddenly.
What am I doing?
I shook my head and laughed and put the food in the refrigerator
where it belonged. I was exhausted.
The past few months had been a whirlwind, and tension
was taking its toll. Of course, putting Italian food in the wrong place was the
least of it. Most nights I was up late working, folding laundry, or doing “one
more thing” before going to bed, wondering why the days were so long and the
nights so short.
I don’t think I’m the only one who has too much to do
and never enough time.
Recently, Amanda’s company had layoffs. While she’s
glad to still have a job, she’s overloaded with work now that her firm employs
significantly less people. Rachel is a stay-at-home mom with three kids under
age four who laughs when you say the word rest, since she never seems to
get enough. And Darnell, who works three jobs just to get by, wonders when he
will ever get a good night’s sleep.
Indeed, we are a generation of busy people—working hard
but hardly living. Getting enough rest, replenishing rest, is often at the
bottom of our priority lists.
But why?
So Many Reasons, So Little Time
We all have our reasons why we don’t make rest a priority.
Some are self-imposed. Some people stay continually busy in order to avoid pain
and disappointment. Others live a life of constant activity because they’re
trying to please others or keep up appearances.
I’ve heard bleary-eyed nine-year-olds complain about their
packed weekly routine of soccer, piano, and dance in addition to school and
homework because it’s what their parents want.
Of course, people have busy seasons in life, like a couple
with a newborn baby or an accountant during tax time. But for some, being busy
all the time seems to be a badge of honor. Have you ever run into someone you
haven’t seen in a while and said, “Hi! How are you?” and she replies, “Good. I’m
so busy these days.”
In the exhaustion of daily living, we often complain, “There’s
so much to do and never enough time” instead of saying a quiet prayer, “Lord, I
am so tired. Please help me.” And that’s exactly what God will do when you ask him.
There is a better way to find a better life, but sometimes false beliefs keep
us stuck on a hamster wheel of perpetual motion.
Lies We Believe about Rest
To be sure, there is a time to work. God uniquely created
each of us with talents and abilities to make a contribution in life. We may be
good at what we do and find satisfaction in a job well done. But there is also
a time to cease from our labor.
Being driven is one thing; being a slave to what we do—bound by
guilt, condemnation, perfectionism, or people pleasing—is bondage. Unknowingly,
we are living a lie.
“The lie the taskmasters want you to swallow is that you
cannot rest until your work’s all done, and done better than you’re currently
doing it,” said Mark Buchanan in
The Rest of God. “But the truth is, the
work’s never done, and never done quite right. It’s always more than you can
finish and less than you had
hoped for.”[i]
If we address some of the lies and release them, then
physical rest and inner peace—soul rest—can replace worry and fear, and things
can begin to change. Read each one listed here and talk to God about what is
keeping you from getting the rest you need.
• Lie: I can do everything and do it all
on my own. A person who believes this lie thinks she has to make everything
happen, do everything for everyone, and do it all by herself. Some may call her
a martyr; others may call her a control freak. She believes her way is the “right”
way and that she must save the world. The truth is that we are sorely deceived
when we think we are a junior Jesus. We don’t save the world; he already did
that for us. It’s the ultimate deception when we think we are like God or we
are God (Gen. 3:5).
• Lie: Rest is a luxury for a privileged
few. I used to think this when I was short on funds and working three
jobs just to stay afloat. It didn’t seem fair, but I felt guilty when I rested.
Then I came across the book When I Relax I Feel Guilty by Tim Hansel and
learned that I had a right to rest. In fact, rest was God’s idea (Gen. 2:2–3).
• Lie: I don’t deserve to rest. Rest
is a gift. You don’t earn it. A slave-driver mentality is not from God but the
enemy, the one who is out to destroy you. The truth is that when you come to
know Christ you are set free (John 8:36).
• Lie: Rest is a waste of time. In
reality, taking time to renew your weary self is time well spent. It’s an
investment that will pay off physically, mentally, emotionally, and
relationally because you will be a better you—for others and for yourself.
Stopping periodically to get refreshed ultimately helps you get the job done
more effectively.
• Lie: If I rest, I won’t get it all done.
This lie goes back to the fundamental question of whose agenda we are
following. A major heart shift happens when we begin to realize that life is
about God’s plan, his story. We live for God, not for ourselves. He will enable
us to get done what he wants accomplished each day when we are surrendered and
willing.
The Value of Rest
I am a lot like my German grandmother, Lena.
She constantly bustled around the kitchen making spaetzle and sauerkraut, and
it took some doing to get her to actually sit down at the dinner table with the
rest of us. Like her, I want to get stuff done. I have many lists and find
satisfaction in crossing off what I’ve accomplished. While it’s true that being
productive can be a good thing, I’ve often gone to extremes, and it has taken me
time to learn the value of rest.
Rest is essential for many reasons.
Rest is necessary, both
physically and emotionally. It’s essential to life and good health. Sometimes
we are so preoccupied with trying to gain more in life that we often
fail to realize what is lost in the process. In the demanding pace of
life, we may lose perspective, forget things, or mess up our priorities. We
lose peace of mind and connection with God and others. Our health and
relationships suffer. We feel cranky, scattered, or alone.
In our efforts to be efficient, we
may not always be effective. Often, we lose heart.
And we need to find it again.
Perhaps we don’t value rest because we’ve
forgotten what it means. Our perception may be skewed by a culture that praises
busyness and devalues silence, stillness, and reflection.
Rest
brings margin to your life, spaces that allow you to replenish and
restore beauty and balance. Without it, life is an endless cycle of work,
chores, and errands. And that’s not what God intended. Joy, peace, fun, and
play are essential parts of life too.
Consider a score of music. Without
well-placed rests, beats of silence, a song would run on and on; it would fail
to achieve its true purpose. And it would surely weary the listener’s ear. So
composers use whole, half, or quarter rests—longer or shorter beats—to make
beautiful music. Is there a way for you to find some well-placed rests in your
own life? For example:
A
quarter rest, which is brief, could be a ten-minute walk to clear your head
and say a short prayer. Often, I get my best ideas when I get up from my desk
and have a change of scenery.
A
half rest could be a weekend away or even getting a restful night’s sleep.
A
whole rest, a longer period of time, could be a much-needed vacation or spiritual
retreat.
Replenishing rest looks different for
everyone. Whether it’s lingering over a cup of tea with a friend, taking a nap,
or enjoying a one-minute vacation gazing at the Hawaiian beaches on your wall
calendar, think about how you can get refueled in your life, because when we’re
well rested, we are better equipped to serve God and others— and enjoy our
lives.
Rest
is trusting God. Busyness is the amount of activity in your
life; stress is how you handle it—or don’t. You were never meant to do life on
your own or carry the weight of the world like boulders in a backpack. When you
release your worries to God, you’re saying that you trust him. Instead of being
anxious, you can rely on the fact that God said he would take care of all your
needs. God is always at work, even when you’re asleep. When you are feeling
overwhelmed, say to yourself, “I cannot, but God can.” God can do anything;
nothing is too hard for him, even restoring peace to your whirlwind life.
Rest
is God’s idea. God gives you permission to rest. In fact, it was
his idea from the beginning. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, we learn
that God created the heavens and the earth “all in their vast array” (Gen.
2:1). Imagine the sheer delight of God as master artist and architect, forming
star-studded galaxies, planets that spin, and gravity to tether us all to the earth.
After he created, he rested (whatever that looks like for God) and gave us a
pattern to follow for our own lives.
Jesus knew well the importance of rest. He had three years,
only a short time, to accomplish his mission, yet he often left the crowds to
get away and pray. He invites us to lay down our burdens and find real rest in
the “unforced rhythms of grace,” as the Message explains:
Jesus knew that in order to be about his Father’s business,
he needed to be connected in prayer to God the Father. How can we be empowered
to live our full lives? By releasing our cares and making prayer a priority.
Making Prayer a Priority
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. We need to pace ourselves.
Instead of constantly getting caught up in the urgent
things in life, we can find a way to attend to the important things when
we remember to pray. Take a look at your schedule. Have you built in any time
for prayer, for rest, for fun?
As you reprioritize, ask yourself what you can delegate or
let go of (either for now or forever). Then make a decision to put prayer on
your to-do list each day. It will not only build your relationship with God
(the primary purpose) but also give you the power and strength to accomplish
what he wants done for that day—and beyond.
When you choose to make prayer a priority, you are really
choosing God. That’s because prayer is a one-on-one conversation with your
Creator. He knows you better than anyone, even better than you know yourself!
Build your relationship with God as you would with a close friend. Talk,
listen, and find out more about his character. You’ll gain insight, wisdom, and
strength to face life’s challenges.
You may not always have a large block of time to pray. Some
women I know pray as they’re feeding their baby or driving to work. But make
every effort to be alone with God in a quiet place, to spend time with the One
who loves you most. That’s where you will find the power to live and the peace you crave.
Choose to make prayer a priority every day. Talk with God,
trust in him, rest on the inside even as you work. You may even look up, smile,
and say a simple, “Thank you.”
Your days may be full,
but your heart doesn’t have to be empty or anxious. Powerful prayer begins
as you release your cares, connect with God, and allow him to work through you.
Then enjoy the love and peace, freedom and power that are yours.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from
him. (Ps. 62:5)
Strengthen Me, Lord
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13
Lord, it feels like there’s so much to accomplish each day,
and sometimes it’s hard to rest. I’m afraid I won’t get it all done. I’m afraid
I will fail. Yet, you promise to strengthen me. You are the mighty God! Help me
to focus on what you can do, not what I cannot. Empower and encourage me. Give
me the lasting strength only you can give. Replenish me so I can live life
better and stronger. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Getting My Priorities in Order
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and
all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
Lord, I have my agenda, but what do you want done today? Help
me to prioritize all that needs to get done. In the midst of life’s busyness,
help me to be centered on what’s truly important and not always get caught up
in the urgent. Help me to put you first, for I know that from my replenishing
time with you all else flows. I will seek you first. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Finding Hope, Joy, and Peace
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as
you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Lord, in the middle of my stressed-out life, I’m glad that
you are my hope! As I strive to balance work, family, and life commitments, I
need to remember to ask for help from the One who can do all things. Forgive me
for trying to do it all on my own. Renew my energy and my joy. Invigorate me
for all you have for me in this season of life. May I find inner calm despite
outer circumstances. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Rest for the Weary
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle
and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy
and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28–30
Lord, I am so grateful for rest. It was your idea in the
first place! Instead of tossing and turning at night with eyes wide open, I
give you my worries and cares, my lists and schedules. With open hands, help me
to release all I cling to so tightly. I need rest for my spirit and my body.
Let me live from a calm and grounded center as I come to you each day. In Jesus’s
name. Amen.
[Excerpt from Powerful
Prayers for Challenging Times by Jackie
M. Johnson (Revell/Baker Publishing Group)]
[i]
Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God (Nashville:
Thomas Nelson, 2006), 93.
