Quieting the Busy Mind
So far in this series, the articles have covered why rest is important, what type of rest suits you best, and how to distinguish your worth from the things that rest keeps you from completing. But how do we actively practice restorative rest when our brains never stop? How do we turn ourselves off enough to experience the benefit of doing nothing when there is still so much to be done?
I’d love to say I’ve mastered the art of resting without guilt, but the truth is, rest is something that some of us may never master. The important thing is to not let this stop us from trying. I work continually to get better at rest.
Here are a few things I have learned along the way that help me quiet my busy mind.
Make time to rest a gift.
Rest is a gift you give yourself… which can be hard if you aren’t the kind of person who finds it easy to gift themselves. I’ve learned to ask my loved ones for this time to myself as a gift. It’s rare that I’ll treat myself to time at the salon for a massage or facial, but if I have a gift certificate, I’m not going to let it go to waste!
But the struggle doesn’t end there. If you tend to be a natural helper, as I am, I’m sure you are no stranger to being in helper mode even when you’re there to be helped. If you don’t want to spend your “me” time counseling your manicurist through her recent divorce, be proactive in establishing clear boundaries and expectations before your service. It is okay, even beneficial, to focus on yourself. Let the provider know you are really looking forward to this time of rest and you’d like to use it to remain quiet and focused.
Practice obedience by making your needs a priority.
We cannot serve others when we are depleted. Jesus Himself modeled for us the importance of solitude and rest and invites us into the rest He gives (Matthew 11:28-30). When we care for ourselves with physical and mental rest, we are being obedient to His example.
The enemy does his best work in our minds and bodies when he is trying to prevent us from doing work for the glory of God, but guilt is not from God. Ignoring our needs is not from God. Exhaustion is not from God. God wants us to have abundant life (John 10:10).
By giving priority to moments of peace and solitude, we can best serve the One that matters most. The world says busy is better. The Word says rest is best.
Reprogram your perception of rest.
Many of us understand rest to be the opposite of being productive, when in fact, it’s a critical part of being productive. We are inundated with messages to do more. Products for how to make doing more even easier. There are countless apps to help us organize our to-do lists… but where is being still on that list?
Busyness is not a badge of honor. Life happens fast and it can easily get away from us if we allow it to. We can stop this cycle by engaging in R.E.S.T. – Release, Enjoy, Surrender, Trust.
Living a spiritually healthy life requires us to put caring for ourselves at the top of our priority list, directly behind God, but in front of those in our life that we need to care for. This isn’t an easy idea to accept, but it is a worthwhile one to pursue.
Rest isn’t something we should feel shame or guilt for. Ultimately, rest helps us be the best version of who we were created to be.
Want more great content? Check out our Resource Resort!

Be Still

Craft Cabana
Easy to make! Check back for new ones each week!

Vitamin "D"evotionals

Eat Wave!

Listen & Read
A Hallelujah Holiday
Keeping the Savior at the CenterWhen many of us think Easter, egg hunts and chocolate bunnies immediately come to mind. True, many of today’s Easter festivities focus more around the coming of spring than the resurrection of our Savior, but the heart of the holiday...
A Conversation Connecting Mental Health and Our Faith
Dana Timothy Peterson, PsyD Dr. Dana Peterson is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. A former active-duty Navy Clinical Psychologist, he is currently the Chief of a Well-Being Services organization for the Department of Defense, overseeing all mental health treatment,...
When Mental Health Impacts Your Marriage
Carolyn Hunsicker, LCPC Carolyn Hunsicker is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a National Board Certified Counselor (NCC) in both Maryland and South Carolina. She has completed Gottman couples counseling Level III. Prior to opening True View...
Facing Mental Health Within the Family
Cheryl Durgin Cheryl Durgin is a volunteer with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), as well as a trained facilitator of their family education program, and a licensed volunteer with the International Fellowship of Chaplains, ministering in areas of...
The Post-Pandemic Reality of Mental Health
Suzie Lawyer, LCPC Suzie Lawyer is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and an Internationally Credentialed Sandtray Therapist (ICST). She specializes in providing a refreshingly real...
An Everyday Lesson
An Everyday LessonL ast month, I headed off to Iceland ready for an adventure… and also asking God for a big revelation about the trajectory of my life. The daily grind of work, life in the COVID era, and personal commitments had worn me out. I was excited to spend...
Starting the Race: The Mission of Carry 117 for Korah, Ethiopia
Starting the Race: The Mission of Carry 117 in Korah, EthiopiaIf you happened to grab an Ethiopian/Arab World GO bag last Sunday or the Sunday before at service, you may have noticed a simple handmade bracelet, inscribed with the words 'Carry 117' in black leather....
The Fundamentals on the Fairway
The Fundamentals on the Fairwayset my golf ball on the tee, got into position, addressed the ball the best way I knew how, and took a nice full swing. Positive I must have hit it a mile, I scanned the fairway, but my ball was nowhere to be found....
As God Has Loved Us: Preparing Arab Leaders for Ministry
As God Has Loved Us: Preparing Arab Leaders for Ministry“I want to be God’s love to those around me.” If you are surprised to learn that these beautiful words were spoken by a Muslim woman from the Arabic Peninsula named Amina*, you aren’t alone. Much of the Arab...
Never Too Old For A Timeout
Never Too Old For A Time Out This past January, my college sophomore, who was home on winter break, came to me and said she felt guilty because she was watching a show on television instead of working. If you know me, you can understand why this experience hit me...