I’m an Enneagram 1, which is “The Perfectionist”. Some characteristic traits are being conscientious & ethical, having a strong sense of right & wrong, always striving to improve things but fear making mistakes and well-organized, orderly and detail ordered. Now you know exactly who I am because this is me to a T 😊

Another lesser-known trait is not being able to relax very well because you feel like there’s so much to do. This is also me.

Last fall I was over-committed – while all my “yes” answers were to really good causes, I gave them out too freely; I was barely keeping my head above water and not doing anything very well. As the year wound down, some of these commitments faded away as their seasonality had run their course. It felt like God was giving me the opportunity to run my “yes” answers through a new filter of “margin” and being intentional with what I said yes to.

I felt peace. Calm. Rest. Quiet. And you know what? It felt really good. It felt like a break that God was giving me to relax and that He’s not asking me to bring back the noise – at least not yet and to that same degree.

A quote by Jada Edwards jumped out at me – “God will stop your productivity so you can rest in his provision.” Read that again.

I wasn’t resting in God’s provision, but rather trying to own and do all the things myself. But to what end? I don’t think that’s what God is asking of anyone.

The Bible gives us plenty of verses about rest and trusting in His provision: Psalm 4:8, Psalm 127:2 and Exodus 20:8-10 to name just a few.

God may not be asking you to rest, but maybe He’s asking you to give a strategic yes. Maybe a difficult no. Maybe a call to go and do/change. Or maybe a call to stay and be. Whatever God may unexpectedly be calling you to do, listen to His voice. He’s good and faithful in whatever He may be asking you to do.

Photo credit: Dan Burton via Unsplash.com