I usually love this time of year, when the calendar rolls over signaling the start of a rest-filled month. In my little corner of the world, July brings with it lots of family time, sunny days, and vacations. A time to replenish. Usually.

But as we are all well aware, things change. Some years look different. Vacation plans get canceled, work schedules adjust to meet all the challenges. We agonize over what will happen with our kids’ school schedules. And in the midst of it all, we can’t forget to watch out for health concerns. It’s enough to make my brain tired.

I’ve wondered lately how I can feel so exhausted, when physically I haven’t been doing as much as I’m used to. It seems like I’m home more than normal, and maybe even less active. So why do we feel so worn out?

Because a mind working overtime leads to a spirit in need of rest.

Maybe like me, you’ve been fighting information overload. Mulling over decisions, adding to your to-do lists, considering all the what-ifs. Or maybe your current responsibilities have you running on overload. Even though we feel like we’re not being productive, we still lack our usual energy.

If I’m not getting anything done, why am I so tired?

What we are all experiencing may be a signal that we need a little extra rest. A simple self assessment will help us determine whether we need a brain-break right about now. Let’s allow these 3 questions to guide us as we assess our need for rest this week.

3 Questions to Help Me Assess My Need for Rest

When I look at the week ahead, do I feel overwhelmed?
Am I responding in frustration when my loved ones ask normal, everyday questions?
Am I having frequent strange dreams and waking up confused about simple things, like what day it is?

If you answered yes to at least two of these questions, you may be in need of more rest. Resting the mind doesn’t necessarily mean more sleep. Because let’s be real, sometimes that’s just not possible. The good news is that we can find rest for a tired spirit in many different ways.

A few moments to decompress will do wonders for a weary spirit.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to rest.

A Few Favorite Ways to Rest

Stepping outside to feel the sun on my face and listen to the sounds of nature.
Closing my eyes and focusing on deep breathing for five minutes.
A cup of my favorite hot tea while praying a prayer of thanksgiving.
Listening to the Psalms read aloud on a Bible app.

Could I encourage you today to jot down a few of your favorite ways to rest? Then follow that up by writing down one of these verses. When we open our eyes to our need for rest and turn that need over to God, He will provide what we need to guard our hearts and minds, and give us rest for our souls.

Verses for When Our Minds Need Rest

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 NIV

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29

“And he said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’” Exodus 33:14 ESV

Praying you will find the rest you need in the coming days, and that God will fill you to overflowing with His rejuvenating peace.

For more encouragement to help when you feel overloaded, check out this post, Moving from an Overloaded Life to Overflowing with Hope.

Blessings,

Kristine

Can anything good come from this?

Seems I’m mulling that question over more than usual lately. Maybe you are too. Sometimes I’m asking in a seeking-an-answer kind of way. Other times it’s more of a throw-my-hands in the air kind of way. Because each day brings another heaping load of frustrating, discouraging circumstances.

People clashing, voices shouting, separation building instead of the coming together we long for after the last round of reality. In all the mess, I really want to know from God. What’s the plan? I know you can work all this together for good, but I just don’t see it.

It’s true that right now, things look pretty bleak any way we turn. And it’s also true that the worse things get, the more overwhelmed we feel. Because problems seem to grow and grow, without any restoration in sight.

So what do we do when that question plays on repeat, “Can anything good come from this?” How do we keep a hope-filled heart in times of such turmoil? We remember the truth.

There will be good. We can count on it.

“So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.” Acts 16:24 NLT

Paul and Silas were thrown in prison. They cast a demon out of a fortune-teller, and her boss had them arrested since it affected his income.

The guard locked them in and stood watch. He alone would be held responsible if the prisoners escaped. Not that it would even be possible, considering their surroundings.

But God performed a miracle and opened the doors of the jail, allowing Paul and Silas the opportunity to escape unharmed.

Paul and Silas could have gotten sidetracked with the miracle that day. God freed them! As preachers of the gospel message, they could’ve left the prison behind without giving it another thought.

But their hearts drew them to the one. The one least likely to seek forgiveness. The one who’d put them in chains in the first place. Jesus had a plan, and his plan always focuses on the ONE.

“The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas...Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:29-30

Paul stopped the jailer from taking his own life, so he took Paul and Silas to his home, cared for them, and gave them a meal. He and everyone in his household were saved and baptized right then.

I can imagine how the church felt that day, with Paul and Silas in chains. Helpless. In despair. Frustrated over circumstances beyond their control. Wondering if anything good could come from this. And with overflowing mercy and grace, God answered.

Because with God, something good will always come of it. We can count on it.

So when hopelessness sets in and we struggle to see how things could possibly work out, we can rest in the truth the jailer discovered. We are Jesus’ plan. We are his focus. No miracle is too great when it comes to drawing our hearts to him.