Greetings from my living room where I currently have a toddler cleaving to me. A toddler who for some reason refused to sleep throughout the night and in other words hindered me from sleeping too. Ah the joys of motherhood!
Friends, I struggled to rest last weekend although as we can see the new week began with insufficient rest. But I think I nailed my little stay-out-of-work-related-pressure mission last weekend. As someone who is always working or thinking of work, letting go of work is not one of my strongest attributes. But one thing I am constantly learning is to let go of every pressure and breathe it all in so life does not pass me by.
You know, it is so easy to trust your ability to hussle rather than trust God. It is so easy to trust that if you work crazy hard and put in your very best then you will be successful.
While this is true to some extent, to an extent it isn't. You know why? Because hard work doesn't always equate success.
I have found that working hard while completely surrendering my decisions and my ways to God is the true way to success.
"It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones." Psalm 127: 2, NLT
This scripture right here is life. It is so apt! I have tasted vainless toil and I have tasted working under God's direction. And trust me, I know the difference.
Psalm 127:2 says "God gives rest to his loved ones." In other words, God's loved ones are not people living in anxiety and overwhelmingness. Because God gives rest to His loved ones.
He leads us to pause when we need to. Just like He led the children of Israel to pause and not pick manna for one day out of 7 days in a week.
Also, He gives us enough for each day. I have discovered that sometimes we work too hard just because we want to secure our tomorrow.
The children of Israel felt that way too. Reason why they gathered manna for more than one day when in fact, God told them to only gather manna for one day.
Then what happened? The excess manna they gathered got bad!
We need to trust that God will always take care of His own.
While we are not called to be lazy, we are not also called to pursue work and financial/material gain at the expense of our well-being.
So success? It's all about God NOT my ability to hussle.
I find that when I surrender all to God, the positive results are mind-blowing. Peter the fisherman toiled all night and caught no fish. But when Jesus told Him to cast his net on the right side, He had such a great catch that his nets began to tear due to the multitude of fish. (Luke 5).
That's what God's word does. It leads you to do just what to do just when you need to do it.
So I'm starting this week with a determination to lean in more into God and obey whatever He tells me to do. Have a great week, my friends.
El says
My darling Precious, this right here is life. Your message is so poignant and relevant to my situation. I love how you laced your message with the scripture completely validating it. Thank you so much for all you do. Blessings!
Precious says
This makes me so fulfilled, El. So glad to be able to be a tool in God's hands. Thank you for taking time to write. Have a lovely week, dear!
Jeannette says
waaw, I just like the fried egg with pototoes, please kindly make a video on that.
Sorry last saturday I was not sound so I could not do the cleaning.
Once I am fine I will use your method and let you know the out come.
Adios
Precious says
No problem, Jeanette. Take your time and clean when you can. Meanwhile, I will work on putting up a fried egg and potatoes video. Blessings.
Dominika says
Precious, I completely agree with you that at times in life we have to let go and let God. Thank you for publishing this post, it has served a soul. God bless you.
http://dominikagoodness.blogspot.com.ng
Precious says
God bless you too, dear.
Adela says
Thanks for the message.Hardwork isn't everything if it were then truck pushers would super super wealthy cuz they work dealt hard.God has finished the work on the cross through Christ Jesus for us.we only work as he leads us.see how peter sat and listened to the word (Jesus christ) while it was spoken in his boatHe didn't do anything so please people allow Jesus to sit in your boat without you educating him and at the end after you have learned what he wants you to learn them your boat will be ful with no efforts of yours.That's how it works,No stress
Selah!
Cynthia says
God gives rest to all. In 6 days God created the heavens and the earth, but on the 7th day He rested and blessed the 7th day and hallowed it Ex 20:11 (KJV) . So it makes perfect sense to rest as He rested and receive a blessing Amen?
Because no matter how long or how hard we work we can Never match His blessings for they are endless! So what's the point of trying?!
Thank you for your message! I'm new to your site and am enjoying your recipes and your wisdoms!
Precious says
Glad you are enjoying the site, Cynthia. May God help us to rest even when we don't want to. Amen.