It is a joy to introduce you to lovely Lauren. In this post, she invites us to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life. Let’s unwind as we breathe deeply of God’s love and rest in His care. He really does know what He’s doing. 🙂

Why God’s Rest is Best

By Lauren Gaskill

I am a dreamer and a doer: a woman who’s always on the move — always looking forward to the next big thing. I thrive off of to-do lists and the feeling I get when I’ve already completed everything I need to do for the week by Tuesday.

I push the limits of my bandwidth for the sake of productivity and efficiency.

To the right of my computer monitor sits a poster I made with a quote from the lovely Audrey Hepburn. “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, ‘I’m possible!’” the poster reads. When I consider Audrey’s words in combination with Paul’s words in Philippians 4:13, I am reminded every day that truly anything is possible. This is what motivates me to keep pressing forward. To defy the odds. To do the seemingly impossible.

And yet, a life of doing is not solely what God has called us to. God has also called us to a life of being: a holy life full of rest, peace, and stillness.

This is something the Lord has really been challenging me with this year.

2016 was one of the biggest years of my life. I launched a podcast, finished my first manuscript (TBD on when it will be published), went to She Speaks, relaunched my website, organized my first annual “Finding Joy Ladies Night Out” event and maintained a blog — all while working a full-time job and trying to be the best wife, dog mom, daughter, sister, and friend that I could be.

I know, right? Totally nuts. I can just picture your eyebrows scrunching together and I know what you are thinking, “Is this girl for real?” Yes, I’m for real. But don’t ask me how I managed to do all of this, because looking back at 2016, I don’t really know how I kept all the plates spinning. Let’s just say it was God.

2017 has been a different beast. If 2016 was full of mountain-top experiences, then the last five months have been full of some of the deepest, darkest valley experiences I’ve ever known. And as much as the dreamer and doer inside of me wants to press on, it’s in these valleys that I feel God whispering to me: No more doing, Lauren. All I want you to do right now is just be. Lay everything down at my feet, and take hold of my promises. Take hold of me. Only me.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Share on X

Oh, how loving and kind our heavenly Father is. After everything that He has spoken over me, deep down in my soul I know if I keep running at the pace I’ve always run, I will crash and burn.

And so, as much as it pains me to take a step back (and as impossible as rest may seem for a girl like me), I know that entering a season of rest is exactly what God has called me to.

The same God who enables us to overcome anything is the same God who enables us to find rest in Him and Him alone. And His rest is better than anything this world has to offer, because His rest restores our soul (see Psalm 23:3).

Has God asked you to surrender something that feels impossible to let go of? Share on X

Do you long for a life of wonderful being instead of tireless doing?

Forget the hustle and bustle. It’s time to embrace a life of rest, awe, and wonder.

Run into the arms of Jesus, sweet friend, and enter His rest today.

Love,
Lauren


Lauren Gaskill is an author, speaker and host of the Finding Joy podcast. She is in the process of publishing her first non-fiction inspirational book. When she’s not writing, Lauren loves to cook, bake and go on hikes with her husband and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who is affectionately named Reese after Lauren’s favorite candy — peanut butter cups.

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