UNFORCED RHYTHMS

“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.” Matthew 11:28-30

My how the girl (me) in this pic has grown in the short time span from when this photo was made. I was unaware at the time how much I had come to rely on more of a veneer of faith instead of a genuine faith. It was based more on what I received than what I offered. My hands were clenched tight, not open. 

And what did that result in? I was tired, worn out, burned out. I didn’t choose to come away and rest (I wasn’t that wise), instead I pushed harder, tried harder. But life has a way of giving us exactly what we need even when we don’t realize it yet. I am learning how to take a real rest. I am learning the unforced rhythms of grace. And this is good. There is peace here and with it, living freely and lightly. 

So often we can feel underwhelmed with God, but more it’s our view of God, our limited perspective, the constraints via expectations we impose on Him that leads to our disappointment. I believe God is inviting us to a different way - the unforced rhythms of grace kind of way. And in this way, when we walk with Him, watch how He does it, we find true peace. 

Surrender is not scary when we realize what we can receive when our hands are open. 

Oh the gifts He wants you to receive in these days… how He longs for you to keep company with Him and learn to live more freely and lightly. 

This is my prayer and heart’s desire for myself, for our family, for all of us right now… that we could learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

(Photo by Alan Pepin)