Restoration

We all need restoration-it is not a sign of weakness nor a sign of failures, simply a human need. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). I have struggled with restoration for as long as I can remember. I don’t know about you, but if I don’t give my body time to restore, it will shut down and find a way to restore itself.

I often tell leaders in both my civilian and military job that the thing we do as leaders is to lead from the front. We don’t ask anyone in our ranks or organizations to do anything we have not or are not willing to do ourselves. Good leaders will always make sure their teams not only perform at their best, but that they are fed and have rest to enable them to perform at their best. Leaders, most of us, lose sight that we need the same restoration to be at our best. God reminds us of this in the Book of Matthew…and in the Book of Genesis-even God rested on the seventh day.

I have previously shared that our small group of women that started this dialogue through a small text group have the same Guidepost Daily Planner. Every week, there is a focused prayer and a story shared from one of their many writers. This week, the prayer is that “this week I will seek to give You an opportunity to restore my soul.” This prayer is further reinforced by the beautiful story and reminder shared in the short story. The writer shares how she and her husband would travel to the country on his day off and she felt that he needed this escape…she came to realize she needed it too. Isn’t that a similar story to many of us? How often do we recognize what we may need and instead focus on the needs of others? Similar to the recognition of the behaviors of good leaders, we often lose sight of what we need. She continues to share that after this time of restoration, they would return to their normal routines refreshed and better able to do their work.

I love the verse she shares…it was also one of my mother in law’s favorite verses. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul” (Psalm 23:2-3). What a beautiful reminder that God is our restoration.

Today, I pray that you take a self assessment - when was the last time you truly rested? When was the last time you set down your phone and did not feel inclined to respond to every email as it chimes in? When is the last time you read a book not for self help or study, but just to enjoy the reading? When was the last time you slept only to awaken when you felt like it and not driven by an alarm? Today, I pray that you find time to rest, to be restored - trust me, you will be better for it!