October. 

Work. 
This has filled most of my days this month (even Sunday) leaving a little time for rest from stress and overwhelm. 
I somewhat strive to stay one step ahead of my never-ending list of things to do. 
Little did I know, I was withering under career goals, relationship demands, & personal obligations. 

And again, struggling with busyness. 

I don’t want to continue running at this pace.

Distraction—it’s all around, almost constantly—but this is not God’s call for my life.
Neither yours, dear. 

There’ll always be more to do on my to-do list. 

There’ll always be more work that needs attention. 

If I only rest when the work is done, I’ll never feel I have permission to rest.

Recalling God’s word for me at the beginning of the year—Resilience. 

According to https://get.tithe.ly/blog

The word originates from two Latin words.

• Re – Meaning “back.”

• Salire – Meaning “to jump or leap.”

So, the literal definition of the word resilient means “to bounce back.” 
The word is associated with withstanding shock, returning to form, maintaining strength, and not giving up. 

Sounds like something we’d all need in a battle, right?

The Bible describes resilience in battle terms:

Though the righteous fall seven times,
they rise again…

Proverbs 24:16

But inside the word Resilience, forms another word SILENCE. 

This silence is not a void; it is not empty of content. 

It allows me to center myself and prepare to meet with God. 

It gives me space to pray as I have need. 

It calls me out of the noise of the world & acts as a threshold into worship. 

It molds me into an attitude of humility before my Creator—being slow to speak and quick to listen (James 1:19)

In a constant barrage of general noise, 
I resolved to be silent before God, 

I am not in control. 

I can close my eyes and drift off and the world will continue to spin–and what a relief that is. 

In seasons of stress & busyness, I can follow David’s example and say,
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. (Psalm 3:5)

I gaze upon the One who spoke the whole universe into being. 

That He keeps the planets spinning, the sun rising and setting, my heart pumping blood around my body.  

That He not only gave us his Son, but along with Him graciously gives us all things. 

His infinite love. 

I can bring all the big things and all the tiny things to Him in prayer,

that I can call on Him and He will answer. 

And, in that knowledge, 
I’ll REST.