“Work first, then play.” That’s the phrase I grew up with. But as a mother I have discovered that the work is NEVER done, which means play is often hard to come by. As moms, we’re pretty skilled at working until we hit exhaustion. When my kids were younger, I remember I would go, go, go until my frustration would explode into anger or tears. Then I began to better understand this verse:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28
Notice the “rest” part comes after the invitation to come to Jesus. Rest is not something you need to add to your laundry list of things to do, but rather, rest is given when you come to the Lord. That’s your only part of this equation.
Rest doesn’t have to be a full day at the spa or a weekend beach vacation or a Netflix binge session; those are cultural expressions of rest. See, “How do I rest?” is actually the wrong question. A better question to explore is “What are some ways I can come to Jesus in this moment?” Maybe it’s sitting in your car listening to your favorite song cranked really loud. Maybe it’s a cup of tea before bed, a 10-minute walk, five minutes with your eyes closed on the sofa.
Here is what I have learned. To function at full capacity 24/7 is a recipe for weariness. You need to take care of yourself, mama. And perhaps the best way to do that is to accept God’s invitation to draw near, and let him do the “rest”.
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