Earlier this week, I was talking on the phone to my sister-in-law. She has an infant son, and he began crying in the background. Quickly his cries grew from fussing to an intense scream as she prepared to pick him up. I could tell the second she picked him up, though, because the crying immediately stopped. She described how he snuggled into her chest, relaxed his little body, and became completely calm. “Imagine how nice it would be to be able to trust someone so much that you can fall into them like this as an adult,” she mused. We do have someone to whom we can turn to and feel that safety and comfort if we seek it.

This year I made a goal for myself – read the whole Bible in one year. I have started this goal many times and generally never made it through Genesis before I fell off the wagon. But this year was different. I was going to follow through and accomplish my goal. Every morning, I wake up before anyone else in my house and spend my time in the Word. The transformation in my heart, soul, and mind has been unbelievable! It has been so inspiring that I started a blog (this one!) to share the good news with others and learn from my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. The one thing that has been the most incredible to me has been the peace and rest I have found each morning when I dive into His word and lay my burdens at His feet.

The weight of the world takes a toll on us. We need Jesus to help us carry our burdens.
Matthew 11:28 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

I lead a hectic life. I have a beautiful, rambunctious 2-year-old, a full-time job as a manager in the financial services industry, and I’m a full-time student. My husband also has a full-time job and has recently started his own small business. To say that we’re busy sometimes feels like an understatement, and the stress that each of these roles can pile onto us is often too heavy to carry alone.

When I am enjoying my coffee and talking to Jesus, though, those burdens become small, and my world is quiet. I feel the peace begin to bloom within me, and in that silence, I feel the presence of the Lord. There is a calmness there that is unparalleled to anything I’ve felt before.

We have to intentionally bring our burdens to the Lord.
Phillipians 4:6-7 – Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God knows us inside and out. There is nothing we can do, think, say, or feel that he isn’t aware of. But we have to talk to Him about these things. Prior to my journey, I carried the weight of everything on my shoulders, and it suffocated me. I was constantly worrying about our finances, keeping up with the house, doing my job well, being a present and loving mom, not neglecting my marriage…you get the point. I was a constant bundle of nerves and found myself often worrying so much that I accomplished very little.

But then, I started talking to God. It started in the mornings during my quiet time. Then, it expanded. The more I talked, studied, and listened, the more I wanted to. And the more I confided in the Lord, the smaller those burdens became. The responsibilities are still there, but they are not daunting. I love my life and I know that I’m not alone, even at the darkest, most stressful times. The weight of the world is nothing with Christ in my corner.

Making time to spend alone with God brings comfort, peace, and rest.
Psalm 46:10 – Be still, and know that I am God.

My morning routine is set now. I often get up very early to do my Bible study and spend time in prayer. In the silence of the morning, I seek out the Lord and His message for me. I read my Bible, pray, and sometimes just sit in silence and think about God’s plan for me. It was in that silence that I felt compelled to begin writing about Him. It was in that silence that I found thankfulness for the trials and the celebrations in my life. It was in that silence that I found forgiveness for those that have hurt me most. It was in that silence that I found peace.

Since I get up so early, I often get to crawl back into bed for another hour or two before I have to get up for work for the day. Most nights, our little girl ends up in our bed between us. So, I get under the covers, snuggle her up, and really look at my little family. I take the time to talk to God again, and thank Him for the many, many blessings in my life – from the air that I breathe to the family in my bed. As I finish my prayer, I take a deep breath, and snuggle deep into Him, just as my little nephew snuggled into his mommy. The sleep that comes after that is deep and peaceful, because I know God is holding me and protecting me – and there is no rest that is safer than that!