Gospel Industry Tip Of The Week 8/1/11
A Quick Recess
For the past few weeks, we’ve been discussing the concept of branding and understanding the role it plays in the new music industry. While you’re spending some real, Holy-Spirit-led time thinking and praying about the four questions I introduced last week (see GI_TOTW for 7/25/11), I thought I’d give you a quick recess.
It’s funny how we lose the concept of recess once we leave grade school. Something that was once important enough to be scheduled into our days along with lunch, reading, writing, and story time is a relatively unknown experience in our adult lives.
Some of us may plan and actually find money for vacations, but even those trips mark only a few weeks out of a given year. And, if your vacations are anything like mine have been, we often return from them tired and unrefreshed.
I fear that we have not learned the art of rest.
I must admit that for most of my life rest has been a “four-letter word” in my vocabulary. For as long as I can remember I have hated to slow down and hated to sleep. In fact, if you ever have the chance to speak to my dear mother, she’ll tell you that I came into this world pulling 16-hour days. I didn’t like to sleep as an infant and not much has changed.
Despite those facts, for the past year the Lord has impressed upon me the importance of rest. It seems to me a strange thing for Him to instruct during a season when life has required so much effort and so much faith. In our industry it has been an especially stressful time as we struggle to understand the changes that have happened in our economy and what that means for our future livelihood. More than ever we have to work the dream. Who has time to rest?
Nevertheless, the pull of the Holy Spirit has been undeniable. He is commanding time for rest.
Against my better judgment, contrary to my comfort zone, certainly out of line with my career, ministry, and financial needs, I have begun to do the unthinkable. I have forced myself to carve out one day each week to do nothing. I retreat from all of the requirements of my life and allow my mind and body to be at peace.
Now, I have to tell you, the first few times I did this, I could barely remain still. I fidgeted and was irritable. I felt uncomfortable and unwell. I had a bad attitude and a bad outlook on the day. I even felt guilty when I thought of all of the things that were going undone in my world.
Over time, however, I began to realize that there were physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs going unmet while I was busy being busy. I began to see that many of the questions I was constantly bringing before the Lord found their answers in those times of stillness.
I’m not talking about times of prayerful retreat. I’m simply talking about the need to rest. God began to meet my needs in my time of resting. And in obedience, I am arriving at places of refreshment and healing, better equipped to proceed everywhere He has called me in peace.
Over these past few months, it has become increasingly clear to me that it is not now and has never been my responsibility to provide for myself on any level. God is my source, my provision, the foundation and catalyst for every ounce of my calling. If He doesn’t do it—-whatever IT may be—-it will not be done.
As we dig more deeply into our callings and as we begin to take more responsibility for our ministries and careers, the call to busyness will begin to ring more loudly in our ears. Without a commitment to rest, we will soon find ourselves overwhelmed and frustrated, never quite getting ahead, never quite feeling fulfilled.
God is calling you to some amazing places, my friend. He is calling you and equipping you in order to proclaim His truth through your gifts. And though the call of God will cost you all, it is not His will for you to arrive at the next level spent and unwell. His desire is for you to be whole and at peace.
As you are preparing for the next season in your ministry, please take this time to reflect…and most of all to rest.
Published: August 01, 2011 | 1 Comments
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Belinda
August 01, 2011
Monica,
This word is exactly what I needed to read and receive. Literally, over the past few months I have heard the Holy Spirit say “Rest in me and stop trying to make your way and do it yourself.” In obedience, I have heeded the words declared and have experienced unparallelled clarity and wisdom during these times of resting in Jesus.
Thank you for your transparency and willingness to share your experience and bless others!