Silence used to make me so uncomfortable growing up. As I have aged, I have grown to appreciate the pockets of quiet I can find. It is important to refuel the tank. This isn’t just physical. If you deal with people and problem solving all day.; set aside time to rest and relax. We cannot give effectively when we are functioning on fumes. Take the time to get in the Word and read a devotional to keep your spirit refreshed and strong for whatever comes each day. This is our weapon against the enemy. Stay in it. Find comfort and strength in every word.
Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword…”
Some ways I have found to quiet the noise in my life in this hard season is as follows;
- Run to the sun in the morning (if it is out) and get at least 5-10 min of looking straight at it. Let the sun get in through your eyes. This is so helpful for less intense spikes of stress later in the day. This sets up your nighttime circadian rhythm for good sleep. I am obsessed with the sun.
- Drink a tall glass of cool water upon waking. The body can lose up to 1 liter of water in the night. DO NOT blast your system with a pot of coffee. It immediately dehydrates you even further and taxes your adrenal glands terribly. You needs 5 cups of water for each cup of coffee to get your hydration where it needs to be. Be gentle with your body. Water, fiber, protein. Make some slight changes and see how much better you feel.
- Go for a walk if you can. I LOVE walking. The amount of benefits from moving your body would fill many pages. It is free. It floods are brain with goodness. It is the best weapon for mental health. If you can do it….GO!
- Sit out in a chair in the yard and read in the sun. I love doing this too. I take the pup out and he messes in the yard while I get caught up on a good book or read my Bible. It is so relaxing and peaceful.
- Go to bed early. I am in bed most nights before 10. There are so many processes that happen before midnight. This is the time your body is restoring, cleaning things up, replenishing and healing. You cannot heal if you do not sleep. Protect your sleep like a newborn baby.
- Spend time with a friend who lifts you. We have so many negative people in world. An hour with a friend can make you feel seen, heard and give energy to the day. Make it a priority. We all need each other. People are dying from loneliness.
- Serve someone. Take a meal to a widowed woman. Volunteer. There are needs everywhere. Go work in the school, support teachers and love kids. They need support. Watch how much your life changes when you are helping in some way.
Hard seasons will come and go, but when we have good habits established; we can move through them with ease and confidence that the Lord is going before us with each new step. Trust Him. Find the gifts within the journey. They are all around you. You have to look. Quiet your spirit. Lean into him daily. There are abundant blessings and adventures waiting to be explored.
