How do you sum up everything that has happened in the past 10 days? Our time in Haiti was a blessing in so many ways…
As I think back to my time in Haiti, the one thing that comes to my mind is the word rest. For a long time God has been reminding me of the importance of taking time rest but more importantly to rest in Him. This is a hard thing for me to do because there always seems like there is something that needs to be done or I am distracted with the ups and downs of life…taking time to rest is the last thing on my mind!
Our team was busy painting the new duplex in the Children’s Village which was hard work but something that stuck with me during that time was what our host Wade said the very first day we arrived. He said he wanted us to connect with God while we were in Haiti. If we ever felt like we needed to step back from our painting project and spend time with God then we should because that is more important. This seems like a foreign concept to me and I wondered if this is something I feel I can do now that I am back home. Can I step away from the things I feel I need to do in order to spend time with my Heavenly Father? Is the project I am working on more important than Him? In the chaos and difficulties in life do I rest in Him or try and deal with it all on my own and on my own strength?
I truly do want to start taking time to rest in Him. I think about Jesus and how even in the chaos of the storm he was able to rest in the boat (Mark 4:38-40). I hope one day to get to this place of rest where even in the storms of life I can be still and calm.
While in Haiti I found rest in the morning when our team did our devotionals, in the singing from the beautiful women who prepared our meals, in the smiles of the children we saw every day, in the beauty God created all around us and on top of the roof where we had our evening debriefs. Through all this I was reminded that I can find rest in Him in different ways. He wants all of us to take time to rest in Him and allow Him to fill us up. He is a loving and sustaining God. This journey we are on is not meant to be done alone and on our own strength. He doesn’t want us living life tired and empty.
He says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. Are you weary and burdened? Are you tired and feeling drained and empty? Why not come before your Heavenly Father and find your rest in Him?
My challenge for you and for myself is to take time to rest in Him. Don’t feel guilty about putting something on hold for another hour or another day in order to spend time with Him. Let’s stop running on empty and start being filled up by Him.
Blessings,
Chantelle
