Weary and Worn Out to Grateful and Graceful
Feeling like no matter what you do, your tank stays on empty? Emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. You’re just DONE. Over it all. You need a break for heaven’s sake!
We all do. In a world that constantly competes for our attention, it’s challenging to get even 5 minutes to ourselves, much less feel relaxed or rested. Forget about feeling renewed and restored.
Sure, we have coping mechanisms. Coffee to start our day, venting sessions with friends, wine to help us unwind, a hot bath at the end of a long day (Calgon take me away!) These are all temporary fixes; none of them truly get us any closer to where we really want to be…renewed, restored.
The incessant barrage of social media. Demands of work. Making time for family and friends, not to mention the extra time, money, and energy needed for special occasions and holidays.
Complete this project. Plan that party. Make dinner. Lose weight. Stay in budget. Pay bills. Do the laundry. (*Friendly reminder to go move your things from the washer to the dryer.). All with a good attitude.
It’s a seemingly never-ending list of pouring ourselves out for others, while accepting whatever leftover space we can salvage for ourselves.
Life is 24/7/365. Where do we get off this merry-go-round?
Maybe you’ve heard about putting yourself first. But that somehow feels guilt-ridden, selfish.
But what if we’ve misunderstood what putting ourselves first really means? God calls us to lay down all our burdens first. Then only pick up the burden He has called us to carry? The burden that is easy and light.
Life becomes heavy, weary, ill-fitting when we carry burdens not meant for us. When we become the martyr because somehow we’ve prioritized serving others over serving God. We put others and their approval first, instead of seeking God and pursuing His path for us first. Jesus promises an abundant life that is lived freely and lightly.
But this can only happen when we first surrender ALL that we carry, and exchange it for the light and easy yoke of Christ.
When our hearts are light, our eyes can more easily see the gifts we’ve been given, the grace we’ve received.
We live and love from a place of real rest, a place of Love. We learn the “unforced rhythms of grace”.
We exchange our weary and worn out for grateful and graceful.
We are restored.
Do you need a day to lay down your burdens? To feel recharged, renewed, rested? Join us for Cultivate Rest – a yoga and nature retreat. Saturday, November 11, 2023.