Choose Rest

This morning, I was reading a scripture that really hit home, “In returning [to Me] and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confident trust is your strength. But you were not willing” (Isaiah 30:15).

Ouch. This hit hard because if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s being busy. I’m good at overcommitting, convincing myself that no matter how much I stretch myself, I can handle it all. And yes, most of the time I can manage—but other areas of my life inevitably suffer. Sometimes it’s my family who feels the impact because I’ve taken on too many social obligations. Other times, I sacrifice sleep to keep up with everything on my plate, pushing through exhaustion. But sooner or later, it catches up with me.

In our society, there’s an unspoken belief that the busier we are, the more valuable or important we become. But is that really true? Do we need to be constantly busy to have worth? The reality is that we have a limited amount of time and energy. The question is, what are we spending ours on? The dishes in the sink can wait until morning, but that bedtime story can’t. When we invest time in the people we love, the return is immense.

Take a step back and consider where you’re dedicating your time and energy. Are you giving the truly important things in your life the attention they deserve, or are you distracted by what seems urgent? Life’s demands can often make us feel that if we’re not constantly moving, we’re not being productive. But it’s easy to miss out on what truly matters when we’re focused on the “urgent” instead of the “important.”

If God calls us to rest in Him and trust Him, why do we resist? I know that when I try to handle everything in my own strength, it doesn’t go well. Yet, I find myself falling back into that pattern again and again. I’m challenging myself, and I challenge you as well: let’s make a commitment to pause, rest in Christ, and seek His guidance before taking on new commitments. Let’s prioritize His peace over the pressures of the world.