Gò0dNews for Everyone
Learning To Rest
D
by Susan Lavigne
o you ever feel like you can’t slow down? You have
Throughout my 30-or-more years of employment, I
101 things on your “to-do” list, and you are already
have experienced a number of quieter times where I felt
running behind. You have said “yes” to too many
God speaking to me from His Word. “Be still and know that
activities. Maybe you feel like Bill Watterson, who said,
I am God” (Psalm 46:10). My initial response was, “God, I
“God put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of
don’t do ‘still’!” However, that is when He also reminds me
things. Right now, I am so far behind that I will never die!”
that it’s more difficult to hear His voice if I don’t slow down
Then, something happens in your life that slows you down.
long enough to listen. Over the last three years, I have been
Learning to rest has never been easy for me. My
experiencing a quiet season, “stilled” by chronic pain and
family valued performance and achievement. Actually, having a strong work ethic has served me and the companies I worked for very well. However, sometimes it felt like my whole self-worth was wrapped up in what I did instead of who I was. So, if I wasn’t performing well or achieving something, my life didn’t seem to have much meaning. By the grace of God, I have achieved a lot in my life. Right out of college, life was moving forward fast, working as a physical therapist in a privately owned orthopedic clinic. Yet, a short two years later, at the age of 29, I injured my back and was out of work for several months. I went from
by the loss of employment, but I have truly experienced
helping others to needing help. Very depressed, I thought,
“knowing God” more during this time than any other time
“If I couldn’t work, who was I?”
in my life. God created the Sabbath for man. He created it
I wonder sometimes if others don’t feel the way I do.
for a purpose—for both our enjoyment and rest. Yet, even
We are so caught up in our roles (like employee, parent,
more, the Sabbath is meant to quiet ourselves before God
caretaker, etc.) that we forget we are loved by God for who
and experience His presence. I hope that you will take some
we are and not for what we do. We forget that God loves us
time to learn to rest in God’s presence today.
because He created us. So, even if I cannot work or achieve still remember that I am loved by God. This has been a difficult lesson to learn, especially in my quieter seasons.
26 // May 2020
About The Author
something academically or socially or athletically, I should Susan C. Lavigne is the training coach for the Celebrate Recovery at Trinity United Christian Church in Rome, GA. She is a Christian speaker and songwriter. Feel free to contact her at susanclavigne@gmail.com.
