Slow and Steady

Finding my summer break rhythm after months of fast-paced days is something that my spirit and body desire, but my mind hasn’t quite gotten there yet. School is out, and it is officially summer break. Days of school drop off and pick up, afternoons filled with activities, errands, and anything that would keep a busy toddler entertained have abruptly come to a halt. We’ve quickly transitioned into slow mornings, lingering afternoons, and extended evenings. Don’t let me confuse you, we are still a very busy family, things just feel much more at ease.

I want to embrace this change and allow myself to ease up on the repetitive daily schedule, mix things up a bit, maybe even welcome more room for doing nothing. As a self-proclaimed busy body, my challenge with this lies in my feeling like I need to be “doing” at all times. This is something I struggle with, even within my faith, the feeling of having to “do” all the time to feel productive in my faith walk.

This past week, I set a goal for myself (along with a few other daily goals) to meditate on one new scripture each day in June. My first scripture last week was Psalms 46:10, “Cease from striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.” This scripture replayed in my mind throughout the week, anytime I found myself being unnecessarily busy. It was my reminder that it is okay to just be. And when I did the peace it felt unmatched.

I know that I need to continue reaching for God’s word and staying connected to Him to remain in a place of surrender and peace as we transition into a new season of slowing down. If you are feeling a bit lost with transitioning into summer break or any transition that feels like a challenge, I want to encourage you to pick a scripture, meditate on it, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand it for yourself. Let that scripture be your encouragement and allow it to bring the peace of the Lord upon you. There is so much we try to control and take on that we aren’t meant to. God promises to never leave our sides, and He is always willing and waiting to help us through anything. We just have to accept His invitation and use the tools He has given us.