A Quiet Heart

To love and lead out of a place of rest and quiet is something I've been asking for for so long.

And God is answering my prayer. This week He's giving me a glimpse of what it means to be quiet. To not have to push my way. To not be anxious over to-dos and not-yet-dones... To rest.

I am at an event that requires my attention, my energy, and my time, and a lot of it, but I feel peaceful! I don't think it's just due to the fact that the job is so big and I can't possibly do it. It's more than that.

When my kids were young we subscribed to the parenting philosophy that kids should just eat all day long. Small meals, snacks some would call it. We had people who thought we were spoiling their appetite but I found that it just helped them grow and mealtimes were no longer a fight. In a similar way, I've been snacking on quiet times throughout my day. Short periods of solitude and rest have been part of my diet, though I know I should probably move to longer periods of time soon. What it's done though, is help me grow. God is showing me that actually when my heart is quiet and restful I get more done! I can discern better what it is that He wants me to do. I can more easily dismiss (still growing in this one!) the things that aren't done.

Quietness and Rest. Peace and Calm. All words that most people wouldn't use to describe me. Thankful that the Lord is giving me a sweet glimpse of what it means to live in this place. While my crazy hare-like tendencies are still there, I can see that God is changing me. So grateful .

Isaiah 30:15

For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, "In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." (ESV)
 
Blessings and Gratitude for:
605. missing my kids so much that I'm praying for them all the time
606. a private worship session with my Lord
607. a word of encouragement that came when I needed it
608. a 30 minute play-date with my kids over skype (the emoticons are so fun to play with!)
609. wisdom and understanding for a situation that seems too hard to figure out
610. the truth that my identity is in Christ and I don't have to worry about all that I'm not
611. grace, grace, grace....

Comments

  1. StephanieOctober 18, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    Grace... grace... grace. Couldn't this just be my #567 and #568 and #989 and 1,001?!! His greatest gift to us--- His grace. Love it. Praise Him for all He is doing in you---for the strength that comes from quietness and rest. And, how rest and peace might "look" on a busy lady! Love, love it. Missing you.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Food on my table

I couldn't believe it. They weren't coming until 6pm, for dinner. At least that was the plan. And there they were at our door with smiles on their faces at 10am. This was going to be a long day, I thought to myself. I had woken up that morning with a heavy heart. It was like a dark gloom had settled over me and I couldn't figure out why. John helped me with the morning breakfast routine, we had kids sleeping over and many mouths to feed. I grabbed my cup of coffee and headed to my room. God and I needed to have a chat. I emerged not 20 minutes later with the answer. I knew why I was feeling heavy-hearted. 2011 was going to be a confusing year! Lots of transition, people coming and going, our own comings and goings, kids growing up, and much much more to trust Him for. The cloud lifted after my very quick and simple revelation. God whispered to me almost audibly, "No worries, Jenn. For I will be with you." The doorbell buzzed. E was here. E had been in ou...
Read more

Feelings of irrelevance

What have I done anyways in the last 11 years? Was it worth it? Raising my family in a country that we'll never fit into. Has my life made any difference here? Does anyone care? Questions like these have been plaguing my soul. Feelings of irrelevance have pervaded my heart as of late. What does it matter that I live here? Does it matter? A phone call yesterday tipped me over the edge. A friend whom I have walked with over the few years is coming to a city nearby (she lives far away) I found out through another friend. I'm so thrilled she's coming, but I felt hurt that she didn't call me. I have walked with her through some difficult valleys. She actually was one of my personal deep valleys. She wasn't exactly easy to love! But God used our friendship in each of our lives and I am thankful that our paths crossed for those years. But that's just what happened. They crossed, and now that season is over. How sad is that? My relational heart aches. How many mor...
Read more

It's no secret

There are things in our family that we share as a family and things that my husband and I share with each other only. But one of those things that we share together is the fact that "Mama's not perfect." It's no secret that Mama's not perfect. There is scarcely a day that goes by without me apologizing to one or more of my kids for quick, impatient words. I can't but help wonder sometimes how many counseling sessions they will have to go through in the future over their mama! I can almost hear those conversations in my head! "I know that my mom loved me, but...." As I reflect on my own mom and her example of motherhood in my life, I realize that though she was not perfect, she has impacted my life like no other person except Jesus. A friend of mine asked me yesterday about my mom and what was it that made her special to me. "Mom made the ordinary into special moments." I replied. She created picnics in the living room on rainy nights, s...
Read more