Lessons Learned While on the Homestretch
I am on the “homestretch”—in ten short days I will be graduating from seminary! People have been asking me what I am going to do after I graduate and I find myself responding with one short, simple word—REST!
It has been a wonderful journey being in seminary for the past four years, but it has also been a lot of hard work and I am exhausted (happily exhausted)! God put it on my heart this morning that I have been so busy asking Him to help me: get my homework done, do a good job, learn what I am suppose to learn, have energy, finish well etc., etc. Yet, in the midst of all this, in my quiet times alone with God in the mornings this week, He as been sprinkling in words like: slow down…relax…rest…trust Me. For I have been pushing myself hard these past four years and especially these past few weeks as I approach the
homestretch and my body is feeling it! I am glad I have pushed myself and done my best. I have learned a lot and grown a lot over these past four years; but now, it is time to slow down and absorb all that I have experienced and enjoy the simple pleasures of life like: sleeping in occasionally, or going for a long walk (without hurrying along thinking I have to get back home to get my work done), or sitting on the front porch talking to a neighbor, or maybe making a batch of chocolate chip cookies for my husband just because I feel like baking today!
This morning God showed my heart that He wanted (perfectionist, hard working Tammy) to ask Him to help me; but, I was/am to ask Him to help me to: (1) slow down, (2) relax, (3)stay in the now—trusting that everything is going to work out and everything is going to get done!
Well, I did just that. I said a prayer and asked God to help me in this new way. Meanwhile, as my feet hit the floor, I was back into my—oh, so very normal—routine of planning in my head: ok, I want to do a load of laundry, read the next 25 pages of my school book, begin work on next weeks assignment for my Tuesday afternoon class etc. etc. When, God in His goodness and sovereignty, set right to work answering my prayer. As I got out of the shower, I received a text message from a friend that said, “I can talk if you want to”! I had to smile as I remembered my prayer of just ten minutes earlier, “Oh, I did just pray and ask You (God) to help me slow down and relax, didn’t I?!” So, I let the to-do list go and I picked up the phone and called my friend and I enjoyed the gift of slowing down for an hour as I visited with a dear friend over the phone. What a gift! And I must say, I am now feeling relaxed and energized as the result of letting my to-do list go and slowing down for just one hour and having a phone conversation with my friend. I am now smiling, while on the homestretch—looking forward to my graduation and a special time to be spent with my family and friends. What a gift!
Application:
- Have you been pushing yourself hard, lately? Is your body crying out for some much needed rest? In what creative ways can you give yourself and your body the much needed rest it may be crying out for?
- What difference might it make for you and all those around you if you were to give yourself permission to slow down—even for just an hour today? Would it put a smile in your heart and theirs, maybe?
- How would it change your life if you stayed in the now [not fretting the past or fearing the future but staying in the present moment and trusting your faithful Heavenly Father, who loves you, that everything is going to be alright and everything is going to get done that needs to get done]?
It is a good thing to work hard and do your best; but, it is also a good thing to slow down, relax, and stay in the now—trusting God that everything is going to work out and with His help everything is going to get done! Taking an hour to yourself to pull away from your to-do list can energize you so that you can be more productive when you do go back to complete the things that need to get done. Don’t underestimate the power and blessing of REST! It is a gift that you can give to yourself and your body! It is much needed! It is a good thing!
Always Pray & Don’t Give Up
This little book is a profound demonstration of God’s power and of true faith in action. It is a guidebook for learning how to pray Scripture, filled with eighty-nine weekly Prayer Sheets for your marriage — eighty-nine pages of power that will change your life and the lives of all those around you, as you too learn to always pray and not give Up!
Testimonials
“Praying Scripture is the most powerful and effective way to pray for your marriage. It can be a daunting task to search out all the passages that apply, though. In this book, Tammy has done the hard work for us in compiling a beautiful arrangement of God's attributes along with verses to pray for myself, as a wife, and verses to pray over my husband and marriage. The Lord has used many of these passages to bear fruit in my own life and marriage."
Mariel Davenport , Author
Knowing God Through His Names
A Housewife Desperate for God
“Tammy Rentsch is passionate about prayer. She prays faithfully and frequently. She is also committed to loving her spouse enough to pray for their marriage. Read this book and you will be equipped and encouraged to pray consistently and powerfully for your marriage with the Scriptures as your guide.”
Brian D. Russell
Professor of Biblical Studies
Dean, School of Urban Ministries
Asbury Theological Seminary