This afternoon I am thankful for rest. Last night I stayed up very, very late to watch my Alma Mater’s football team (FSU!) play Miami. Needless to say, after only getting a few hours of sleep afterwards, I was rather sleepy by the time noon came around, and I decided to follow up lunch with a nap. Now normally I avoid naps at all cost, not because I don’t like them, but because I’m one of those people who just feels absolutely awful after taking one, whether it’s a 20 minute cat nap or a 3 hour siesta.
But today was not the case. Today I embraced that precious nap and now I am awake enough to be writing this blog post!
But this reminded me of how essential God’s rest is in our lives, and I also feel convicted for not seeking His rest and comfort over the temporary and fleeting comforts of the world.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28]
Being a very independent person (something that most Americans are in general) I often find myself denying my need for God’s rest. But not only is he able to give me rest, He wants to. He wants to take up my burdens and rejuvenate my weary soul. He wants to comfort me after a trying day. He wants to reassure me and give me that extra boost of energy when I feel like “I just can’t go on.” God wants to because He loves me.
So that is why today I am thankful for rest :)
What do you feel thankful for today?
macarons & paperbacks 
Maggie,
I think the hardest part we have as independent and spirited individuals is to acknowledge that sometimes we need to take a break for ourselves and to be mindful of our own well-beings!! I have burnt the midnight oils far too many times knowing fully well that it was going to wreck my time schedule and my sleep patterns, but sometimes it couldn’t be helped whereas other times, I should have realised that what I was staying up to finish could have been picked up lateron the next morning! :) We all over stretch ourselves, but sometimes I think, that’s a good thing too! I mean, if we never take a risk, even if its a risk against sleep, then we are not fully alive! :)
Learning to be ‘still’ and ‘restful’ are two separate struggles I think most of us try to resolve at different moments in time. I am thankful for being able to be still in nature to observe and hear everything that is meant for my ears at the time I am there.