give me rest, and give me Jesus

I don't think I've ever loved sleep more in my life than I have this semester. It may be my workload, the stress of classes, or some other factor, but I have been yawning almost continuously and take advantage of nearly every free minute to nap.

I seriously think one thing we forget that God blessed us with is rest.  I feel like sometimes one of the best things I can do in my walk with God is just take a breather and rest.
    We get so caught up in being busy, busy, busy, that we think sleep and rest is something left to be desired. We focus so much on things we have to do, things we need to do, things we want to do, that we don't think rest or taking a break is as important when there's stuff to be done.

My devo this weekend was talking about resting in the love of God. That's a concept that when I read about it,  it sounds so simple. But yet, I just don't understand it. How could a God that does so much want something so little in return? At least, it seems 'little' to me.

and yet, if this is something that is so little to me, why can't I seem to give it any time of day? Why am I not content to rest in all that God's given me? Why does everything else deserve more attention than the peace and rest only the Father can give?

I can chatter at Him all day-I'm quite good at that part. ;) But this whole concept of just resting in His presence is hard. I really don't know why it is. I guess I feel like I'm not getting anything done when I try to do this discipline. At least that's part of the problem-if I don't feel like I'm getting anything accomplished, to me it's time wasted.

When in reality, resting in both the general and spiritual sense does a lot more than I realize it does. It gives my heart and mind time to just be. For a little while, when the world gets crazy busy and begins to spin out of control... it's the peace that I need to remember that God's got it under control.

My devotional said this: "But what I’m learning is that God doesn’t need or desire my help. What God longs for is my presence. What God desires from me is surrender — resting in God’s unconditional love."

God doesn't need our presence-it is us that truly needs time alone with our creator. Yet He longs for it. He wants us to communicate, to be as much of a part of our lives as if He was sitting right before our eyes. He wants us to fully surrender to the fact that this world isn't going to fulfill us, only time with Him can do such a thing.

The writer compares it to a child being content resting in a mother's arms-carefree, at peace, just content to sit and be.

I wish I could be like that all the time. I know that isn't possible, but if I could just spare a moment to rest-to remind myself that God loves me and has my whole life in the palm of His hand- maybe I would be able to get through my days a little easier.

If I would just be for a minute, maybe I'd be able to see Jesus as someone who seeks me out and gives me the rest I crave.

  I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,
    my soul is a baby content.
Psalm 131:2 (The Message)

Give me rest, Jesus, only the rest that being with You can give me. Goodnight all:)