This Restless Heart, Guest Post by Kristen at Beautifully Imperfect
Please welcome Kristen from Beautifully Imperfect as she shares with us. Her words have inspired me and touched my heart many times. I hope they do the same for you.
This Restless Heart
I feel like I practically live in a church. My life's work is ministry, spending eight hours a day pointing the world - in color and graphic and word - to community and connection that truly satisfies. Then one night a week I gather with women who share struggles and victories and try to walk together through this thing called life. And on weekends, we return yet again to whisper prayers and raise hands and nod in agreement as the pastor shouts truth.
And yet, for one who claims to know the way, I often find myself desperately grasping at frayed threads of quiet and peace.
I've come to mistake closeness to the people of God and closeness to the house of God for closeness to God Himself. And I've convinced myself that doing things for His purpose and to His glory are a suitable substitute for spending time with Him. And let me tell you this, it is leaving me exhausted and restless.
The crazy thing is that He responds to all my striving and trying by saying, "Are you tried. Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace…Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matt. 11:28-30, The Message)"
But getting away with Him - spending quality time with Him - doesn't always come naturally to me. I am a doer, a mover and a shaker. I like to see things checked off my list! But despite my best intentions there is no replacement for keeping company with Him.
So this week I will have to daily and purposefully make the choice to spend time learning the unforced rhythms of grace. Because to quote St. Augustine, my heart will always be restless until I find my rest in Him.
This Restless Heart
I feel like I practically live in a church. My life's work is ministry, spending eight hours a day pointing the world - in color and graphic and word - to community and connection that truly satisfies. Then one night a week I gather with women who share struggles and victories and try to walk together through this thing called life. And on weekends, we return yet again to whisper prayers and raise hands and nod in agreement as the pastor shouts truth.
And yet, for one who claims to know the way, I often find myself desperately grasping at frayed threads of quiet and peace.
I've come to mistake closeness to the people of God and closeness to the house of God for closeness to God Himself. And I've convinced myself that doing things for His purpose and to His glory are a suitable substitute for spending time with Him. And let me tell you this, it is leaving me exhausted and restless.
The crazy thing is that He responds to all my striving and trying by saying, "Are you tried. Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace…Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matt. 11:28-30, The Message)"
But getting away with Him - spending quality time with Him - doesn't always come naturally to me. I am a doer, a mover and a shaker. I like to see things checked off my list! But despite my best intentions there is no replacement for keeping company with Him.
So this week I will have to daily and purposefully make the choice to spend time learning the unforced rhythms of grace. Because to quote St. Augustine, my heart will always be restless until I find my rest in Him.
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