No Rest for the Writer

By Andrea Merrell

Writer, do you ever get weary? Deadlines scream at us. Commitments nip at our heels like yappy little dogs. Protagonists march through our dreams, creating scenes and filling our head with lively dialogue … when we need to be getting that much-needed sleep. To-do lists taunt us throughout the day as we try to attend to other things that really need to be done.


The life of a writer is wonderful, exciting, and exhausting, especially if you have to juggle another vocation or various other responsibilities. If you’re like me, you never find enough time to do everything. Multi-tasking becomes the norm, and it’s hard to have that laser focus when working on an important project.

Then there’s life: jobs, housework, shopping, cooking, and family obligations. Our minds swirl with thoughts like: Hurry up! Do this now. Do that now. Keep going. Just one more chapter. Don’t stop now. Work harder. Get up earlier. Go to bed later. Meet that deadline. Skip that family birthday party. Your friends don’t need you. Work, work, work.

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: "Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved {rescued, delivered, restored, renewed, preserved, and made new}. In quietness and confidence is your strength (Isaiah 30:15 NLT).

“But I don’t have time to rest,” you might be saying. Resting can involve a week at the beach, ten minutes spent in quiet time with the Lord, or anything in between.

In Mark 6:31 (The Message) Jesus told his disciples, “Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." For there was constant coming and going. They didn't even have time to eat.

Did you catch that? The Lord wants us to take a break and get some rest. He longs to wash away all those things that make us weary and infuse us with His strength, His wisdom, and His peace. He wants to reorder our priorities and renew our minds with fresh, creative ideas.

Failure to take time out of the busyness of life can lead to over-scheduling, poor time management, unrealistic goals and expectations, stress, anxiety, and bad habits. These things create a chronic inner fatigue that can easily lead to burnout. 

One writer said, “If we don’t rest, we lose our way.” When we refuse or neglect to make the effort to enjoy a little downtime, we risk losing the ability to hear the voice of the One who created and called us—the One who has a wonderful plan and purpose for each of us.

Does God expect us to work hard and get the job done? Absolutely, but never at the expense of health, family, emotional well-being, or time with Him. He wants us to go the distance. When we stop and rest in Him, He will fully equip us with everything we need.

Even though we're in the middle of  the busiest holiday season of the year, be sure to take those special moments to rest and have fun. Spend quality time with the One who makes all things possible. Allow Him to direct your steps and light the path before you.


Alycia and I are so grateful for each one of our readers. We want to take this time to wish you a very merry and Jesus-filled Christmas!




(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

TWEETABLES


Comments

  1. Thank you for the reminder to pause and be with the Lord.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for this reminder. I have learned, if I rest in the Lord, He will provide the time to get the important things done. AND will give me a renewed spirit. A blessed Christmas wish to you and Alycia.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Sheryl. A very Merry ... and restful ... Christmas to you! :)

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts