Written by Elizabeth Johnson
It’s that time of year. Summer often tempts us into two extremes. We stay so busy we never truly rest, or we check out completely from responsibilities and relationships. I typically lean toward the first extreme, and in a blink the season is gone.
I get it. The kids are home, life is life-ing, and you may already be wondering how you’ll recover from the family “vacation” you’ve had booked since last year. Maybe summer just looks like more laundry, more yard work, more planning and chauffeuring, and you’re already counting down the days until school starts again. Or maybe summer for you means unplugging, DND is on, and you’re off the clock and off the grid - enough said - but somewhere between busyness and complete disengagement, there is an opportunity to shift our perspective.
What if this summer wasn’t about doing more, or doing nothing, but about finding God’s pace?
I want to invite us to experience these warm and wonderful months with a kind of rest thatrestores us for continued impact.
Rest is Holy. God designed rhythms of work and rest. From the Sabbath to Jesus slipping away to pray, Scripture shows us that rest isn’t a reward for finishing everything on our to-do list. It’s a part of how we are created. Summer can be a gift of more margin, more family time, more opportunities to enjoy God’s creation, and more space to hear His voice.
Rest is not the same as retreat. Sometimes when we are exhausted, we don’t just rest, we disconnect. We pull back from community, we stop paying attention to the needs around us, and we put our faith on autopilot.
Jesus modeled something different. Jesus didn’t retreat from His purpose while He rested. He simply moved at the Father’s pace, making room for both ministry and renewal. Rest restored Him for purpose. Healthy rest replenishes us without disconnecting us from what matters most.
People needed Jesus everywhere. Crowds followed Him, urgent requests constantly came His way, yet He was never hurried or frantic. Jesus walked, He paused, He prayed, He noticed those around Him. Jesus lived at the pace of the Father, not the pace of the crowd.
Summer offers a chance to ask ourselves, Am I living at God’s pace, or the world’s pace?
If we are honest, God’s pace doesn’t mean doing more. It means paying attention to what He has placed in front of us and responding faithfully. Faithfulness can be putting down our phones and being present with our families. Faithfulness can be taking a walk to pray instead of rushing into the next task. Faithfulness is remembering that even while we rest, God is still at work around the world.
While many of us are enjoying slower mornings, family vacations and summer traditions, God continues to move in Togo through the generosity of this community. Women and families are gaining access to education, opportunity, and hope because faithful people choose to stay connected to the work God is doing.
One of the beautiful things about monthly partnership is that it allows you to remain part of the story. Your gift continues to make an impact even while you’re embracing a season of rest. If you’re already linking arms with us, consider sharing the mission of Francis + Benedict with a friend. And If you’re not yet a monthly partner, perhaps this summer is the perfect time to take that step.
As you enjoy the sweet days ahead, my prayer is that you’ll find God’s pace in it all and enjoy a summer of both renewal and purpose. After all, some of life’s richest moments happen when we make room for both.
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