Blog
Unable to Relax?
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 by Sarah Schwerin
When I lay down to sleep, my mind keeps whirring. Did I forget to do something? Are my kids safe? What’s that noise? Even my body fights relaxation. I wear a night guard because I grind my teeth. When I splurge on a massage, my massage therapist tells me, “Relax.”
If only it were that simple.
If I relax, I’ll miss something. If I’m not always doing two or three things at one time, I might fall behind. So, I run to keep up. I wonder if Jesus’ followers ever felt that way.
When Jesus lived on the earth, a group of men and women followed him from town to town. They listened and watched him perform miracles. Their following was not a passive experience. They walked with him, argued with him, and sometimes went out and did what he commanded. Then, Jesus took three of his disciples up a mountain. While Jesus prayed, he changed. His appearance was transformed. Matthew’s gospel tells us that his face shone like the sun and his clothes became like light. Then, Moses and Elijah appeared.
Right away, Peter began speaking. He had a plan. He knew what should happen next. But a voice from heaven interrupted him.
“He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him,’” (Matthew 17:5, ESV).
Much of the time, I feel like Peter. I know what I need to do to reach my goals and I keep talking and acting. I keep pushing forward. Never relaxing. Never listening. And I miss out on God’s presence. I miss out on what’s right in front of me.
Peter stood before Jesus, God in flesh, and he focused on his own agenda, his own plans. It took the voice of God to get his attention.
God tells us: Stop. Listen to my Son.
When we look on the face of God, we will find the rest and relaxation our minds and bodies need. What can we do today that would help us stop and listen?
“Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!” (Psalm 80:3, ESV).
*Picture courtesy of https://pixabay.com/
Previous Posts
A Blind Date, Prince Charming, and the Rock Thrower
Sarah Schwerin
2/20/2025
A Winter Storm: Beautiful and Dangerous
Sarah Schwerin
1/16/2025
Santa Phobia
Sarah Schwerin
12/13/2024
Too Many Hurricanes: Why Me?
Sarah Schwerin
11/12/2024
I Want My Mom
Sarah Schwerin
10/8/2024
Scraped Knees
Sarah Schwerin
9/10/2024
A Curly Haired Girl
Sarah Schwerin
8/13/2024
For the Birds
Sarah Schwerin
7/9/2024
Too Much Adulting
Sarah Schwerin
6/11/2024
Ziplining The Canyon
Sarah Schwerin
5/14/2024
Book Review: Healing the Wounded Heart
Sarah Schwerin
4/9/2024
Unable to Relax?
Sarah Schwerin
3/12/2024
Who Am I?
Sarah Schwerin
2/13/2024
How's Your Heart
Sarah Schwerin
1/9/2024
The Frozen Ground of Christmas
Sarah Schwerin
12/19/2023
Book Review: Forgiving What You Can't Forget by Lysa TerKeurst
Sarah Schwerin
7/27/2023
What's Your Favorite Book?
Sarah Schwerin
7/13/2023
Overcoming Recurrent Hurts
Sarah Schwerin
6/22/2023
Book Review: #My Family Too! By Marlene Bagnull
Sarah Schwerin
5/25/2023
Second Breakfast
Sarah Schwerin
5/11/2023
Book Review: Hush by Nicole Braddock Bramley
Sarah Schwerin
4/27/2023
Unexpected and Unwanted
Sarah Schwerrin
4/13/2023
Books Review: We Too By Mary DeMuth
Sarah Schwerin
3/24/2023
An Envelope of Kindness
Sarah Schwerin
3/9/2023
Book Review: Healing For Damaged Emotions by David A. Seamands
Sarah Schwerin
2/23/2023
Misdirected Prayers
Sarah Schwerin
2/9/2023
Book Review: The Courage to Heal By: Ellen Bass and Laura Davis
Sarah Schwerin
1/26/2023
My Refuge: Where I Flee When Life is Hard
Sarah Schwerin
1/12/2023
Book Review - True North By: Dave Smith
Sarah Schwerin
12/29/2022
Oatmeal For Dinner
Sarah Schwerin
12/15/2022
Book Review of Rescuing Rose
Sarah Schwerin
11/28/2022
When Houses Fall
Sarah Schwerin
11/16/2022
An Invitation
Sarah Schwerin
9/21/2022
Planner Addict: What Happens When Plans Fail
Sarah Schwerin
9/16/2022
Fast Drivers and Two Brothers: When Life Isn't Fair
Sarah Schwerin
8/16/2022
Talking Birds
Sarah Schwerin
7/15/2022
Looking for a Leader: Reflections from the Gettysburg Battlefield
Sarah Schwerin
6/24/2022
Nap Hater: My Quest to Find Rest
Sarah Schwerin
5/3/2022
Dreams of Kenya
Sarah Schwerin
4/26/2022
Snow Days and Hearts that Lead Us Astray
Sarah Schwerin
4/13/2022
Can I Hide From God?
Sarah Schwerin
3/29/2022
Stitches and Waiting on God
Sarah Schwerin
3/25/2022
God’s Voice Or The Enemy’s?
By Sarah
3/3/2022
The Battles We Fight
By Sarah
3/3/2022
Drowning In Fear
By Sarah
3/2/2022
A Boring Bible Story, A Temple, And My Mom: A Devotion On Heaven
By Sarah
3/1/2022
Marriage Advice
By Sarah
2/28/2022
Does Idolatry Exist In Today’s World
By Sarah
2/27/2022
Underwear Blues
By Sarah
2/27/2022
A Voice In Chengdu
By Sarah
2/26/2022
Word Of The Year
By Sarah
2/25/2022
A New Year Challenge
By Sarah
2/24/2022
A Christmas Of Firsts And Lasts
By Sarah
2/23/2022
Christmas And The Suffering Servant: Hope For Abuse Survivors
By Sarah
2/22/2022
The Day I Stopped Watching Horror Movies
By Sarah - Life Lessons
2/21/2022
Waiting Arms
By Sarah
2/20/2022
I Messed Up, Again
By Sarah
2/19/2022
My Tribe: Autism Moms Are The Best
By Sarah
2/18/2022
When Words Wound
By Sarah
2/16/2022
Craving Acceptance
By Sarah
2/15/2022
When Innocent People Suffer
By Sarah
2/14/2022
Rubbish
By Sarah
2/12/2022
The Voices In My Head
By Sarah
2/11/2022
Buffets
By Sarah
2/10/2022
The Process Not The Product
By Sarah
2/9/2022
Hidden Snacks, Ice Cream, And Fairness
By Sarah
2/8/2022
Rootless
By Sarah
2/7/2022
You Never See The Potato Masher Coming
By Sarah
2/5/2022
Forgiveness
By Sarah
2/4/2022
The Unnamed Victim
By Sarah
2/1/2022
Engraved
By Sarah
1/31/2022
Left Handed Hero
By Sarah
1/30/2022
Quarantine Time
By Sarah
1/26/2022
