How is your Thursday, friends? With the Labor Day holiday this week is a bit off…but in a good way. We are already closer to the weekend, right? Our son actually had school on Labor Day which meant Mom and Dad had a date day. Quite nice. Monday was not the typical Monday.
Tuesday was the “Monday.”
I didn’t have a ton on my plate but I did have a few uncertainties heavy on my heart. Unanswered questions and what’s next type questions. Nothing major or life changing or dramatic, but just stuff messing with my mind. Isn’t it funny how we can allow the things that really make a big splash of drama in our life to just happen and we go with the flow. On this Tuesday, it was the little nagging questions that through me off my game.
I turned to what we often resort to first: texting a friend for advice or prayer. Said friend did her lovely duty and left me with encouragement. But yet, that heaviness still very present. I allowed my thoughts to rabbit trail to worst case scenario. It’s not fun to live in my mind. Is it fun to live in yours? Want to trade?
After a lunch of leftovers from the night before and catching up with my DVR of entertainment news, (this is what I do on my typical lunch break–guilty pleasure. Trying to stay relevant. wink wink.) I caved and gave into this nagging need to escape and take a nap. Oh I love naps. You get the fan going and the escape of it is pure bliss. This time, though, the chatter in my brain kept the bliss at bay. Not ready to give in and quit the nap, I made a conscious decision. This might sound weird. Yes. I say it is, in fact, a bit weird.
That moment with my head on the soft pillow I turned off the chatter and surrendered. I literally visualized myself sitting like Mary (verses a Martha) at the feet of Jesus to soak in His presence. Trading in the head chatter for pure peace. In this nap time a physical act of rest would translate into a spiritual act of rest and surrender. As I drifted off I recall asking the Lord for answers with a calm peace which comes from KNOWING that He hears our prayers…even in a nap slumber.
I woke up less than an hour later to a voicemail answering my questions and alleviating the pre-nap anxiety. Wait what? In the time I laid down (both literally and symbolically) God did His thing?
I rolled out of bed determined to redeem the rest of the day with productivity but I moved forward with a posture of gratitude and worship. I know deep down that that God will not always answer my prayers so quickly (like on my timeline!) as if I commanded Him to make things happen by the time I woke from my slumber. No. This was a moment of learning what happens when surrender turns into an act of worship.
A heart shift happens.
A sweet sense of praise and a glimpse into God’s goodness reminded me of my need to worship daily with acts of surrender. With this naptime prayer answered, God whispered into my soul, “I hear you. I see you. I AM moving. I AM God. Surrender and rest, my dear.”
An act of worship in the act of surrender. You might not be a napper, friend. Maybe your act of surrender looks differently than mine. I pray today you will find your sweet spot and come to a place where you hear Him say REST and SURRENDER. AMEN!
