The Carousel

"The Carousel never stops turning."

That is one of THE most classic lines from the TV show Grey's Anatomy. It's been used throughout the years of the show to symbolize how life is forever moving.

Recently, I felt extremely exhausted. It seemed like every time I tried to sit down and rest, there was always something else to be done, like an errand had to be run, a family member was sick, my kids needed a ride somewhere, curriculum had to be planned, dinner had to be cooked, etc., etc. I was so tired I wanted to cry. Then that very quote from Grey’s Anatomy popped into my head, except I had the words transposed a bit and kept saying, "The merry-go-round never stops."

But for real, that's how life felt. If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, I'm sure you remember how it was to play on the merry-go-round at the playground. There was always the one person who was responsible for spinning, and everyone else jumped on, grabbed a rail, and held on for dear life. Sometimes we would even be bold enough to try to jump on or off mid-spin. Eventually, the spinning would stop, and somehow, despite dizziness, scrapes, bruises, and all, we had a blast and were ready to do it again.

That was when we were kids though. I can't imagine trying to stay on the merry-go-round forever. Just like I don't want to imagine keeping up a pace that God (Yahweh) did not intend for my life. One that drains me to my core and leaves me with nothing else to give to myself or anyone else. Unsurprisingly, God knew exactly what I needed.

One morning, I logged in for the weekly prayer call that I host. I was so tired and barely made it out of bed to call in on time. I had even forgotten to send out the reminder the night before, so I wasn’t sure how many ladies would join me that morning. In God's fashion, it was only two of us on the line, and the one sister who joined me specialized in teaching God's sabbath rest. What an emergency intervention prayer call we had that morning.

During that call, I had to come face-to-face with the fact that I had forgotten the beauty in sitting still and allowing God to refresh me. Where I once took this sacred time of stillness daily, I had now found myself in a cycle of constant movement—movement that was slowly stifling my restful quiet time. Sometimes, we can become so accustomed to the hustle and bustle of life that we no longer value stillness.

Throughout the Bible, we see scriptures that teach us the importance of rest. Rest is a part of the Ten Commandments that were given to Moses, which commanded the people of God to remember the Sabbath day of rest and to keep it Holy (Exodus 20:8-11). The Psalmist in Psalm 37:7 encouraged us to be still in God and find rest in his presence, especially when facing adversity. Even God himself took rest after calling the Earth and its inhabitants into creation (Genesis 2:2-3).

If God deems rest essential, why don't we? It is in our state of rest that we are refreshed and renewed both physically and spiritually. It is where we receive insight and instruction from God on His plan for our lives, and where we receive strategy to deal with the challenges we are facing.

And note, rest is not just sleeping. Sometimes it’s taking time out of your day to sit quiet while listening to worship or soaking music. Often, it is a full day dedicated to Sabbath Rest through prayer and meditation. And then, there are times when it’s God’s directive for you to put your feet up and simply enjoy a relaxing activity. But you notice that no matter the method, they all include time with God.

Although the carousel, or merry-go-round, never stops, we must make rest a priority. God sure did. So, as you move forward in the days ahead, be intentional and get yourself some rest. I know I will. With that said, as always, I thank you for stopping by. I pray this message has blessed you, and if it did, be sure to share it with someone else who needs it. Until next time, continue to walk in obedience to Yahweh and replicate His love to your neighbors.