Finding Rest In The Chaos

By: Dawn B.

​Congratulations – we survived our first Thanksgiving during a pandemic. Not a milestone I expected to achieve in my adult life, but here we are. My energy now turns to making the Christmas season as special as possible while holding true to pandemic safety regulations. Not a small task! As the to-do list gains pages, it is time to take a moment to breathe, rest, and be present in the moment and in God's presence.

We are Human Beings

Our culture focuses on production. What are you doing to make your life, the life of your family, and the world a better place? Days are measured by the number of tasks that we accomplish, while lack of productivity is deemed lazy. Looking at this formula, our society defines us as human doings when God created us as human beings. Instead of measuring our worth by tasks completed, let us take a moment to seek who we truly are.

Defining Self

​The definition of self is "the nature or essence of a person." Essence is not a task. It is not defined by how well you clean the house, your ability to work 40+ hours a week at your job, or the number of hours you spend caring for people. All these things are essential and necessary, but they do not define one's being. To find your essence, you need to look deep within yourself and feel God's purpose inside your innermost soul.

Take a Moment to Breathe

​To seek God's purpose and hear him speaking, we need to slow down. It is impossible to hear anything when the room is filled with noise—the more tasks on the list, the more noise blocking out the voice of God. I know what you may be thinking – so who is going to do all these tasks while I'm slowing down? I get it! Life is busy, and things need to get done. Start small. Find 5 minutes sometime during the day and breathe. Breathe in God's grace, listen to His voice, and lean into your being outside of your doing.

We are Meant to Rest

​The next step is to acknowledge it is good, holy, and necessary to rest.

"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his." Hebrews 4:9-10 (NIV)

If the almighty creator of the universe took a moment to stop and rest, we certainly need to plan rest into our days. It comes back to being instead of doing. Rest and take time to be with God, yourself, and your loved ones. Practice being present in the moment. In being present, we slow down, and even planned tasks can become more peaceful, allowing for more rest.

Embracing Christ In Christmas

​As the journey to Christmas begins, embrace the fact that you are a human being. Take moments to breathe in God's presence and rest in His grace. Embrace the natural holiday sensation swirling around – Christmas lights, colorful stockings, nativity scenes on the mantel, and smiling children filled with excitement. Celebrate the miracle of God sending Jesus to live among us and grow to be the Savior of the world. Rest, breathe, and be present to the moment God sets before us.

Dawn Marie Beauchamp is a wife and mother of three glorious children living in the great state of Michigan. She can be found at Controlled Chaos blogging about faith, family, food and everything in between. Dawn and her husband run a growing electrical company and are avid DIY-ers. In their spare time, Dawn and family love to spend time outdoors - boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, and snowmobiling. You can follow Dawn on the following social platforms -Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

​

---