Devotionals for the Heart: Rest

Rest on This
A devotional by Quantrilla Ard

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." –Matthew 11:29 (ESV)

I remember as clear as day the moment it happened. We were headed to the boys’ first day of school, joy and excitement in tow. Book bags and lunches packed, we began the commute to their new educational facility and new educational journey. Out of the blue, the car started to spin, and things began to go dark. I immediately asked my husband to pull over to the side of the road because I wasn’t feeling well. Concerned, he asked me what was wrong. I couldn’t speak. I began crying as I felt an increasing loss of control over my body. What was going on?

Several doctor and specialist visits later, the words I heard gave me relief, but not answers. “We can’t find anything wrong with you,” the doctor stated matter-of-factly. “Have you been under any stress recently?” he asked. Of course I have, I thought to myself, I’m a wife, mother of three, student, entrepreneur, friend, and daughter along with probably five more hats I probably forgot I was wearing. I was exhausted just thinking about it. I simply admitted that there had been several major changes that occurred in our lives lately, and I just hadn’t slowed down to process them. I hadn’t slowed down.

As followers of God, our goal is to have His nature replicated in us; part of having His character is following His example. Yet we often overlook one very important example He set. Rest. Intentional Rest. What had been missing from this very harried time in my life was rest. I always pushed it to the side, assuming I would be able to catch up on it during some unscheduled time over the weekend that never came. It became the ever-elusive carrot dangled in front of my face to keep me moving ahead. I had hit a brick wall, and my body was paying the price.

We are not honoring the temples God has created and told us He would dwell in when we dismiss rest. I have finally realized that pushing myself to go past my limit is a form of selfishness and self-harm. It not only ignores the example set for us by God after creation, it perpetuates a harmful example for our children and others in our sphere of influence with whom He has entrusted us.

I believe with my whole heart that rest is where we commune with God and solidify our relationship with Him, and I must admit, the times where I have rushed a hurried life along are the times where I feel the most disconnected from Him. 

Today, I am making more time to rest. Physically, mentally, and spiritually. 

I pray that you too will join me and do the same.

~*~
Author Bio:

Quantrilla (Quanny) Ard is a faith-based personal and spiritual development writer who lives in the D.C. Metro area with her husband and three littles. 

In addition to being a dedicated wife and mother, she is an entrepreneur, doctoral student, and curator of all things lovely.

As a woman on her own quest of shining a light on the shadowy, hidden places in her life, she writes as the PhDMamma about things she knows to be true in hopes to encourage others to do the same.

Her spiritual goals and her love for Christ propels her quest to share the journey with other women: to walk alongside them and encourage them with words, deeds, and wisdom. Quanny believes in the power that is within collective strength, community, and fellowship.

You will find her wherever people are sharing stories of triumph.

~*~
Connect with Quanny:
Website - https://www.thephdmamma.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thephdmamma
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/qyard08
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/quannyboo/