Resting in The Chaos

[00:00:00] Hey, friend. Welcome back to Glow in the Chaos. I'm Alyssa, and today I want to talk about something that sounds so simple, but can feel so hard. [00:00:08] Now, this is a word that may turn people away. [00:00:13] This is like a swear word to some people. [00:00:16] Rest or relaxation. [00:00:19] That word should not feel dirty. Okay, if you're anything like me, rest doesn't come naturally. We live in a world that glorifies hustle, productivity, and pushing through. But when you've been living with chronic stress, illness, or just a constantly racing mind, your body starts whispering, sometimes even shouting. Please slow down. [00:00:41] And I've learned that when we ignore those whispers, our bodies keep the score. They carry tension, fatigue, inflammation, and anxiety. [00:00:52] All of these signs are pointing to the fact that we don't need another to do list. We need peace. [00:00:59] Rest isn't laziness. [00:01:02] It's holy. Even God rested on the seventh day. He didn't rest because he was tired. He rested to show us the rhythm we were created for. [00:01:12] When we choose to rest, to take a nap without guilt, to say no, without explaining it's strength. [00:01:22] For me, learning rest meant admitting I couldn't keep doing everything. I had to let go of being the strong one all the time. [00:01:31] And in that surrender, I found something I didn't expect. [00:01:35] Peace. [00:01:37] My body began to feel lighter and my heart quieter. [00:01:42] I still struggle with this. This is not something that I feel like will ever come easy for me. [00:01:49] Growing up, I was always on the move. Gotta go, gotta do something. I was never the one that was sitting still. I always had to have plans. [00:01:58] Rest was just not something that I prioritized. But I definitely feel like as I'm getting older and now that I'm living with chronic illness and depression and anxiety, I definitely feel like my body, it's reflecting all of those years of not resting. So when they say the body keeps the score, that is no joke. [00:02:23] So maybe you need that reminder today, too, that rest isn't a reward for finishing everything. It's part of how we restore our minds and bodies. [00:02:32] So this week, I want you to find one way to honor your body's need for peace. Maybe it's turning off your phone an hour early. [00:02:39] Maybe it's saying no to something that drains you. Maybe it's just breathing deep and remembering. [00:02:45] Rest is part of your healing. You are never meant to glow from burnout. You are meant to glow from peace. [00:02:53] Thank you so much for listening to Glow in the Chaos. If this message spoke to you, please share it with friends who might need that same reminder. And don't forget to follow for more faith filled encouragement and tools for healing. [00:03:05] Until next time, take care of your body and soul and please, please please rest and keep glowing in the chaos.