About Our Guest Host:
Casey Wayne is a devotional writer and author of Abundant Fruit, a 28-Day devotional for moms. She is a wife and mother of two who enjoys time with her family doing simple things like movie nights and cooking together. Casey strives to share her story with relatable honesty, showing how God is faithful throughout the big and small moments of life. She has a heart for encouraging the faith walk of other moms; praying they gain a deeper connection with our heavenly Father. Her family lives in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia.
Connect with Casey at caseywayne.org.
You can also find her on Instagram or Facebook @caseylwayne.
I sat in the bed feeling burnt out and defeated. All the roles I play had caught up to me. Chasing perfection as a wife, mother, and daughter had left me drained. The self care wasn’t working. All the efforts to find rest through gardening, pedicures, and even reading of scripture did not seem to be getting me anywhere. This is how things continued until I came to understand God’s design for rest. Until God taught me how to rest with intention and purpose.
Rest is necessary and I think most of us would say we understand that. Yet we struggle to give in.
We resist the application of this knowledge. For me it is a struggle with the feeling that I must earn my rest. Especially as a mother, we get used to pushing our needs aside until all the other things get done. We do not see rest as productive, but instead push ourselves as if it is meant to be a reward. God wants something different for us. Rest is not only necessary for restoration, but it is also required for us to grow.
In Matthew chapter 11 Jesus is speaking to a crowd; those that had been following John the Baptist. After praying over the crowd He says this is verses 28 through 29 (NLT), “Come to me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” He presents himself to the crowd as a source of restoration and as a teacher.
In recent years God has revealed to me how my faith walk should not look like a constant sprint forward. Instead it should have a seasonal pattern.
Much like our Earth is created to have different seasons, each with a purpose, our faith has seasons intentionally orchestrated by our Father. Some seasons we are flourishing in God’s faithful abundance. This season allows us to pour into others for God’s glory. In another season we may be drawn deep into God’s wisdom and guidance, leaning in to who God is. But sometimes, what we really need is to just sit at the feet of Jesus while he heals and restores our soul.
The season of rest lays the foundation for what God has planned in the next season. Psalm 23:1-3 (NLT) shows this season-like sequence when it says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.” Notice the sequence of provision here: 1. Rest (vs. 2), 2. Provision of Peace (vs. 2), 3. Strength and guidance in him (vs. 3), and 4. Bringing him glory (vs. 3).
This sequence becomes cyclical as God stretches our faith preparing us for everything he has for our life. It builds us up and encourages spiritual growth so that we can partner with him in our seasons of abundance.
The world tells us we should stay busy chasing the perfect life. But God offers us peace and rest. He draws us to himself for seasons of restoration to prepare for the future work he has for us. It all works together for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28). Pray that God gives you the discernment to see the season he has you in. Ask him for peace and hope to trust his plan for you. May we embrace each season for the intended purpose, seeing each one as a way to deepen our relationship with our heavenly Father for his ultimate honor and glory.
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