Finding Your Rhythm in This Season of Life
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
What started out as a few weeks, has now turned into months of varying degrees of shutdowns and quarantine. With that has come much uncertainty, various opinions, and multiple changes. Personally, it has been hard at times to find my equilibrium and navigate these uncertain times. The way we worship, socialize, and live has been completely turned upside down, and figuring out how to move forward and find our new “normal” can be challenging. How do we live with intention in a world filled with ever-increasing uncertainty?
I recently read about the idea of finding our “rhythm” in life which is more fluid than a traditional schedule. Eugene Peterson who wrote the Message translation of the Bible said,” Having rhythm means that you live out who you are in relationship to who God is, who Jesus is. So it’s more like a dance.”[1] He talks about how rhythm is unique to the person and can even change depending on circumstances. I like this idea, especially in these ever-changing times with adjusting to kids at home (24-7😊), college kids staying home, and other life changes because of the pandemic. While schedules can certainly be useful, in times of uncertainty they can be everchanging and even frustrating. Rhythms, however, can ebb and flow, and help us navigate uncertainty – they can teach grace, create space for grieving and healing, lead to Sabbath rest and fruitful engagement. When our life rhythms are in sync with the Father - he helps us to grow, bear fruit, and make disciples. He gives courage, grace, comfort, and direction.
Now Read Matthew 11:28-30 in the Message below
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
May God give you grace, courage, and creativity to learn and live out the “unforced rhythms of grace.” Some ways I am learning to do that this season are through:
Intentional time with the Lord
Intentional time with my husband and kids (together and individually)
Intentionally reaching out to those in my care – emails, cards, phone calls, physical distance visits as possible
Intentionally creating space for me to “rest” and practice sabbath, allowing God to use that time to feed my soul.
Creating goals – short and long term. I find it helps me to have something to look forward to, even if that is something small like an ice cream date with my kids, physical distanced time with a friend, date night with hubby, etc.
I am learning to find my rhythm in this season – it is not yet perfected and I am not the best “dancer” in this dance of life, but I am learning to lean in closer to the Father to have His rhythm direct my rhythm and to live and move as He leads.
How are you finding your rhythm is these times of uncertainty and change? Send in your response here and be entered in a drawing for Kay Warren’s book Sacred Privilege written specifically to encourage ministry wives!! (GCA ministry wives only, please. I have both Spanish and English copies available!)
Click here to answer the question
Please feel free to fill out a prayer request/praise form (which will be given to Cathie Smith and Graciela Rodriguez)
Click here for prayer request form
Resources for further reading:
https://biblicalcounseling.com/how-to-find-joy-during-trials/
When People are Big and God is Small by Ed T. Welch- dealing with being people pleasures, fear of man, etc. Excellent read on focusing on being God pleasers rather than people pleasers.
Sacred Privilege by Kay Warren – Great encouragement for pastor’s wives and the view of serving as a pastor’s wife being a Sacred Privilege.
May God give you grace and courage as you seek Him to find your rhythm.
[1] Gabe Lyons, “A Candid Interview with Euguene Peterson”, January 02, 2011 https://churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/145302-a-candid-interview-with-eugene-peterson.html
Cathie Smith is the Ministry Wives Coordinator for GCA. She is a ministry wife, mother of three and enjoys Earl Grey tea, yellow daisies, all things chocolate and talking with friends. One of her greatest passions is helping women to grow in Christ and become life-long disciple makers.