• faith
  • life
  • motherhood
  • books
  • family
  • home
  • food
  • travel
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • blog
  • about
  • Beautycounter
  • podcast
  • design
chelsea eubank

chelsea eubank

stories + graces of everyday life with God

  • about
  • podcast
  • Design
  • Shop
  • clean beauty
  • contact

find rest in unrestful circumstances

07/08/2019 · In: faith

How can I have rest in the midst of a bunch of “unrestful” activity?

I ask this of my kind husband who is an Olympic sound board for my daily external processing.

I go on to describe habits of thought that find roots in my introvertism. I spend a large portion of mental capacity thinking about what’s ahead. It is this desire to feel prepared, to ‘gear myself up’ as I often say, and feel confident about what is expected of me that leads to an angsty lack of true soul rest.

I pose the above question to my husband because I want to be sure awareness of self remains beneficial but doesn’t detract from living as God calls me to in His Word.

“Quit thinking about it,” he says [kindly] as if it is the most obvious answer.

I smile and nod, knowing I’ll need to sit with God and this newfangled idea for a few days to genuinely agree with him. I do, and the result is SWEET.

We can never know truly how a situation will play out. We can also never know how we’ll respond and feel in a circumstance until we’re there. You wouldn’t worry about mile 6 before you’ve even begun mile 1. Often, we can’t know exactly how we would or should handle a situation until we’re smack in the middle of it. Common sense, right? Mmm, evidently not so common for this human.

We carry unnecessary tension when we A, try to be omniscient as God is, or B, don’t trust Him to provide what we need. It’s a lack of dependence on God that kills any chance of rest in the midst of an unrestful circumstance. It’s a lack of trusting His nature that prompts my worrying about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own, says Matthew 6:34.

I can’t know all that is coming or whether I’ll feel ‘enough’ for it, but He knows, and He is enough. (Bonus: His “enoughness,” His provision and presence is already inside me with His indwelling Spirit. I don’t have to reach far for it.) Reality is, I have better access to the all-sufficient God who can accomplish anything than I do the chance to feel confident for what the next hour brings.

If God has put his Spirit within you, here is a friend more than all earth can give and, oh, he is within you. He is the Spirit of truth, ask him for light. He is the Comforter, ask for comfort. Unbosom everything to this indwelling Friend. Robert Murray M’Cheyne

He says — I’ll give you words to say (Luke 12:1-12). I’ll be your strength (Isaiah 40:28-31, Isaiah 33:2, 2 Corinthians 12:10). I’ll be your wisdom (James 1:1-8, Isaiah 33:6). I’ll be by your side the entire time (Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 46:3-4, Zephaniah 3:17). Don’t worry, I care for you (1 Peter 5:6–7, Psalm 25:8-11, Psalm 27:1, Lamentations 3:25). It’s okay if you don’t feel able, I’ll help you (Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 13:6, Psalm 37:23-24).

I write in my journal:

I want to abide with you in the hour I’m in. I want to practice inviting You into the moment, the need, the conversation, the task. I want to lean into Your Spirit, and cultivate a sensitivity to what You might be doing that I don’t know about. I want to joyfully live relying on You first, not myself, to be enough for whatever comes.

Soul rest in an unrestful hour, day, week, or season is accessible when we acknowledge His Spirit in us and practice total dependence.

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:33-35 The Message

By: Chelsea Eubank · In: faith

you’ll also love

on instagram: some thoughts, the changes, questions to ask and a little on greatness
the Psalm (and God) that is changing me
you don’t have to be considered the most awesome to love well

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

Clothe Yourself With Wisdom: Christine

Primary Sidebar

Search

I'm Chelsea... a wife, mom and friend passionate about cultivating a rich life with God.

This blog is equal parts family stories, faith reflections and creative delight.

I read a lot. I eat peanut butter every day. I like shopping secondhand. I love hosting people in our home.

Writing helps me pay attention, and paying attention keeps me grateful.

Glad you're here!

Series on the Blog

  • Reading and Listening
  • Current Read
  • Joy Triggers
  • Instagram Archives
  • Clothe Yourself With
  • Perspectives
  • Truth To Consider
  • grateful list
  • A Few Things

THE PODCAST

the email

archives

topics

abiding anna art & design beautycounter biblical truth birthdays body image books clothe yourself series crushing on current read faith family fear food goals God God's presence grace gratitude him holidays inspirational words Jesus joy triggers julia Kids learned life life with God love marriage me motherhood music photography prayer reading and listening recipes reflection simplicity social media spiritual growth travel wisdom

Footer

Listening

  • BEMA
  • Pray the Word
  • Church of the City
  • Elisabeth Elliot
  • Raising Boys and Girls

Reading

  • Jasmine Holmes
  • Henri Nouwen
  • Justin Earley
  • Helen Smallbone
  • Darrell Johnson

engaging the Church & kindling love for God one testimony at a time

Listen in as people just like you share about their life with God.

Check out my podcast!

Copyright © 2023 · Theme by 17th Avenue