Has your heart taken a beating recently?
Talk about exhausting… on every level.
I invite you to find ways to rest your heart. I’m currently resting and have gone off Facebook because I don’t trust my heart to speak edifying things while it is in so much pain and is so tired out. I’m taking a break from a lot of people because I don’t trust my heart and mind to properly filter lots of different voices. I’m even dropping some big projects in my life for a little while because my heart can’t handle one more thing. The world won’t end, they’ll be there for me to finish when I’m ready.
But resting isn’t only about removing.
I’ve started collecting things that inspire my heart, help it stay alive, and help it heal. I journal and pray and remind myself what kind of a God I serve – one who loves me and knows everything about me and hasn’t left me in this season. I play my ukulele and sing to myself and to God every single day. I read and watch shows when I need to distract myself from things outside of my control (not distractions from responsibilities). I work out and write and learn languages to keep my brain and body from deteriorating. I let myself cry when I can because it releases tension that usually is spent on jaw-clenching. I listen to playlists that don’t have any songs that trigger my depression or anxiety and rather help me get moving and feel happier. I put together boards on Pinterest full of ideas and pictures that stir something good inside me.
And bit by bit, my heart begins to get strong again.
Bit by bit, I heal.
The progress is so tiny and slow that it’s been easy to get discouraged, but people close to me have noticed a difference, and I have been healed before. So this is my encouragement to you to find ways to make life more simple until your heart is well-rested. And it doesn’t hurt to have a little furry baby to snuggle with in the meantime!
