*Unforced* Rhythms of Grace
We returned from France three days ago. It was a great trip to Biarritz, Bordeaux, and Paris that was full of fun, laughter, food, and rest.
As I headed into this trip, I was mindful of the Theology of Rest series our church community has been discussing. How could I embrace rest as we headed into our vacation?
I did some of the obvious things, like totally unplugging from work, but France also provided me the opportunity to take a break from my regular routines.
Normally, I get up in the morning and have a particular routine involving Scripture, prayer, and journalling. Sometimes I engage with my rhythms happily and willingly. Other times, however, I enter my morning routine with more of a sense of duty and "have to" rather than "want to."
I understand there are times we need to be disciplined to do the things that bring us wellness, and being disciplined can take effort, but I had noticed I was finding less enthusiasm regarding this routine. France offered me a chance to step away for a couple of weeks, so I did a couple of drastic things.
First, I didn't bring a Bible (I have one on my phone if I really needed one) and did not read my Bible for two weeks. Second, I only prayed as I felt led throughout the days, and did not go through my regular prayer list. Third, even though I brought my journal, I didn't use it once.
In other words, I completely unplugged not only from work rhythms, but also personal rhythms. And this is coming from a guy who appreciates routine and doing things similar ways in similar order (just ask Jamie)!
It was liberating! How I loved not being tied to any particular task (whether for work or for me) for two weeks. Usually I do tasks whether I feel like it or not because they are the right thing to do, so to give myself permission to not do them (and not feel guilty about not doing them) was quite a shift for me.
Yet giving myself two weeks of "want to" rather than "have to" helped me to truly rest.
When I returned home I observed a couple of interesting things: on the one hand, the first morning I woke up and put in my earbuds to listen to my daily prayer app (Pray as You Go app), a wave of peace washed over me. I had missed it, and I felt like I was coming back with a revived sense of joy and anticipation to meet God this way.
On the other hand, I noticed I was dreading the return to a particular part of my journalling routine. So guess what? I didn't re-engage with it! When I made the decision to stop doing it, even if it's just for a season, I felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders.
I was truly feeling what Jesus talks about in Matthew 11:28-30:
“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.”
~ Jesus
I underlined what stands out to me. Connecting with God, growing roots into his love, is to be done through unforced rhythms of grace.
I learned I had been forcing my rhythms, which means they had become ill-fitting. France allowed me to see that and return to God with unforced rhythms of grace.
PAUSE and REFLECT: look at your usual day and usual rhythms,. They could be rhythms for spiritual wellness like I've been writing about, but they could also be other rhythms (like exercise routines or household routines).
Do they still fit you? Are they still serving their purpose in your life? Or are you simply doing them because it's what you've always done? Signs that your rhythms have become ill-fitting are they feel forced ("have to" rather than "want to") and they do not produce good fruit anymore.
Rather than simply change them for another routine, I invite you to rest from them for a time (and not feel guilty about not doing them). After a couple of weeks of rest, you may find you have renewed vigor to resume the rhythm, or you may find you have not missed it and do not need to return to it at this time.
Either way, keep in mind that you are deeply loved by God. His desire is for you and to connect with you at a deep and meaningful level so that he may infuse you with peace and wellness. You finding the right rhythm isn't about pleasing him (he is already pleased with your desire to connect); it is about discovering what works for you in this particular season of life.
Today, what will help you slow down and open up to God? Embrace that and let the other stuff slip away for now.
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Biarritz Photo by Pierre Archi on Unsplash
Cover photo by Nick Osborne