You can go back and read January’s letter here.
Want me to read this month’s letter to you? Click here.
Dear Tightly Wound Woman:
I see you.
I am aware of how you aim to please. You go above and beyond to be “the best”. You cringe at criticism and work hard to avoid it. You run yourself ragged with all the doing and doing.
You were made for great things, but you also need rest. It is not a suggestion or an inconvenience. You need to rest. Take a break from the doing. Sit still and do nothing. Breathe in. Breathe out. Look around and see all that I am. Just enjoy me. Oh how I delight in you.
You place so many expectations on yourself and on others too. You become resentful when others don’t line up to your high standards. I know all about the frustrations, the hurts, and the heaviness. I am not making light of your struggles but I ask that you lay them down so I can lift you up (see 1 Peter 5:7).
May I lift the load for you? I was made to carry this and carry you.
Admitting you need help is a beautifully hard thing. May I help you? May I lead this waltz through the wild?
Do you give to others because you hope that they will fill your cup with affirmation and pats on the back? Do you give because you are afraid that you won’t be loved if you aren’t productive?
Dear one, stop running for a minute. Apply the break to your racing thoughts and worries.
I am here, right here.
I haven’t changed. I keep watch. And I won’t leave.
I love you because you are mine (see Isaiah 43). You have value because I formed you and put you together piece by piece, with great attention to detail (see Psalm 139).
I spin you around and smile. I declare that what I have made is “very good”. I like what I see (see Genesis 1). I do.
Sometimes you have unrealistic expectations as to how life should be. When you come face-to-face with suffering you are shaken and scared. The questions surge and you are afraid to admit how you really feel about it.
I want to hear your questions. I love to listen to you pour out your heart.
Will you listen to Me too?
I have so much to share that will fill you, warm you, and provide what you need for this journey.
I ask you to trust Me.
I know it is hard but it is necessary for moving on in freedom. When circumstances fall apart I am here to help you find your way through.
Just take the next step.
Don’t get bogged down by all there is to be done. Just do the next thing.
Be realistic with your time and what you can offer.
Let the guilt go.
Embrace this amazing grace provided daily, strategically and loving placed before you, like breadcrumbs, leading you Home.
Love,
Me
P.S. I am linking-up with Suzie for #livefreeThursday, Holly for Testimony Tuesday, Kelly for the #RaRaLinkup and then Meredith for Woman 2 Woman, Kristin for Three Word Wednesday, Jennifer for #TellHisStory, and Holley for Coffee for Your Heart.
Take the next step. Trust. Sometimes the hardest, but definitely the most helpful.
Yes Susan, I agree.:)
Katie, Def needed to hear these words today. Praising God for His grace and the reminder that in Him I can find rest. God bless, Tina
Thank you Tina. May today be full of beautiful grace.
This spoke right to my heart today – thank you – you write so beautifully and so full of love that I really did feel it was God speaking directly to me. This made my day 🙂
So glad Tania- thank you. Happy day today too, may His love fill you and overflow as you rest in His Sufficiency.:)
Sounds exactly like what He would say to all of us if He were to write us a personal letter. But, oh wait, He already did that, didn’t He? xo
Katie,
What a loving letter to remind us we can trust God…we don’t have to do it alone and we weren’t made to do it alone…blessings to you 🙂
Hi Dolly! Thank you. I need this reminder ALL the time.
Much needed message!
Thank you. May you be encouraged today that He’s holding you.
What a beautiful post! I needed the reminder to rest and to let Jesus fill me with His peace. I found you through the #RaRalinkup and am now following you. I look forward to seeing what you will share!
Hi Sarah Ann- So glad you are here! May His peace (that passes all understanding) be yours today.
Hi, it is my first time using Kelly’s #RaRaLinkup. I just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed your blog and its message of ‘Rest’ is timely! Thank you
Hi Jenny- May we all learn to rest better. I think we feel guilty sometimes for doing it, but God gave us such a beautiful example and knows we needs it. It is not a luxury but a necessity:)
It’s so easy to get bogged down with all the “to-do’s”. When I don’t know the next step, I just take a step, believing something is better than nothing. Thanks for the great post, it really spoke to me.
Thank you Lisa.:)
Hi, This is my first visit via Holley’s link up. Your letter format is so unique and personal. I love the message of resting in our loving heavenly Father. We try WAY too hard, when really all we need to do is walk in faith and He will do His glorious work through us.
Blessings,
Kamea
(I am newly sharing my story of healing at incrementalhealing.wordpress.com I’d love it if you’d stop by and share your thoughts.)
Hi Kamea- Thank you for coming on over. Here’s to a a day of resting for the try-hard women.:)
This is beautiful. You have a very calming voice in your writing. Maybe it’s that I’m the “tightly wound woman” and that’s why I find such comfort in your writing. I really enjoyed this today. Such a wonderful merciful God we are doing life with.
Hi Melody- As a singer I especially love your name! Thank you, I’m often wound up so tightly so writing is a healing thing for me- it slows me down and unwinds my mind.:)
What a beautiful letter, Dear Katie :). I know this stuff in my head, but time and time again my heart needs reminded :).
Thanks Anita. I need to be reminded about every 5 seconds.;)
What a beautiful letter, Katie. Makes me hope you are still headed my way this weekend so we can sit across from one another and share our hearts. :))) xoxo
Yes Beth! I sent you a twitter message. Can’t wait!:)
I needed to hear this. Thank you. And thanks for linking up at #ThreeWordWednesday. Your presence there is an encouragement.
You are most welcome Kristin. So fun to get to know each other better in this big blogging world. 🙂
Katie, you speak to me (as always). Thank you for helping me to unwind what is an almost constantly going mother, blogger, bible study leader, marriage group leader and wife. Wow. There is so much going on. I need to rest in the arms of Jesus sometimes…I value your words and your loving support as you help me unwind. Cheering your heart. Thank you for joining the #RaRalinkup with Purposeful Faith; you are a joy to have as part of it.
Hi Kelly- Here’s to slowing down (even if it’s just on the inside) and slowing so that we soak up all this life. Ann Voskamp has a great quote about this, “Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I’ve ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing…. Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away.”
Oh Katie
I’ve had to read this multiple times.
Because I fight it
Because I still am working out how to be loved
And the beautiful writing created a response I didn’t like, a check on one more area I haven’t quite let God have all of.
I had to keep reading it over and over and each time it got easier and eventually I could finish it and it’s beautiful. Thank you for writing this and sharing it 🙂
Dear Molly- Thank you for sharing transparently. I too have listened to this over and over- is that weird? Because I need to hear it and learn to let myself be loved too. I’m there with you friend. One step at a time, closer to Him.
Simply beautiful and what I needed to hear. 🙂
Thank you Sarah- happy Friday to you.
Hi Katie. Your words are spot on today. (So glad to see you at Jennifer Dukes Lee’s place today!) I’ve been pretty weary this week, so today I’m going to lay it all down so he can lift me up! Taking the next step…
May His peace fill you and lighten your load. Hope you find some pockets of rest this weekend.:)
Ahhh…I wish I didn’t understand what you meant by Tightly Wound Woman, but I so relate to this. All this. Thank you for these words. This post gave me a deep breath of life and peace. My favorite line —> “May I lead this waltz through the wild?” Love it!!
Thank you,
Anne
Me too Anne. But I think He wires us this way because He needs some fierce women to make a difference in unique ways. Let’s stay tightly wound, close to His side.:)
That is a beautiful love letter. <3
Thank you Suzie.:) Glad to link-up over at your place.
I love that you post a letter each month! May this letter greatly encourage the hearts of those who read it. Thank you for sharing this & for visiting me at Doorkeeper. Blessings!
Thank you Renee. May we be set free as we receive His heart for us.:)
Your words are a breath of fresh air … permission to breath again, to rest.
Thank you Jennifer- that is indeed my hope and prayer:)