Like a Child Again

This week, it’s really hit me hard that I’ve grown up. As I sit here in my brand new apartment in the middle of the city thinking about the groceries I need to get, the meals I need to plan, setting up automatic payments for my monthly rent, assembling my new coffee table for my living room, and the meeting I need to prepare for next week, reality has sunk in: I’ve grown up (actually grown up). I turn 23 this weekend, and as I think about all of these things, I am realizing how simple times were as a child, and how complicated times can be as an adult.

Do you ever sit and think about how innocent a child’s life is? They are so unaware of everything going on in the world around them. They are naive to what people are capable of. They are oblivious to the struggles they will face when they are older and the hardships they will endure. Things are easy and simple. So simple. They really are in such a blissful state. And as I sit here thinking about busy I am, how many things I am constantly having to do, situations I am having to handle, etc., I miss that innocence. I miss that time of life where nothing carried a ton of weight and all I really worried about was remembering to feed my pet frogs and trying to keep a secret that Santa wasn’t real (this was actually really hard for me to do in elementary school. I know, I was terrible).

Don’t get me wrong – I am extremely happy in this stage of my life. I am proud of where I have gotten to and the blessings God has bestowed on me. What I am saying is that we could all use that mentality that children naturally have. We could all use that naivety, that peace, that innocent joy that children carry around with them. And I have found that the place to find it is at the feet of Jesus.

I was curling my hair one morning this week getting ready for work and I immediately felt overwhelmed by the stress of everything I had to do as well as all the things going on around me. I felt so small all of the sudden and incapable of handling the pressures lying in front of me this week. And just like that, all at once before I’d even been able to have my breakfast, the stressors and anxieties of life hit me like a brick wall. I felt weary and my soul was tired. I let myself feel these heavy emotions for a minute when finally I paid attention to the words of the music playing in the background (I have a specific worship playlist I’ve made that I listen to EVERY morning as part of my routine – you can find it here!). I took a second to breathe in, and I pictured myself resting at the feet of Jesus – literally lying at his feet – and suddenly I felt like a child again. I felt safe, secure, and like nothing could grab a hold of me or rip me from that spot.

It’s moments like these that are reminders of how small we are and how much is going on around us. Life is overwhelming – growing up and taking on responsibility is hard. And it’s in these moments that it is important to re-center, go to The Lord, and rest at His feet. He can fill you up when your cup is empty. He can revive your soul. He can give you what is needed to make it through the day or whatever you are facing. God wants us to come to Him. It’s His desire, and He wants it to be ours as well. He tells us this in His words below.

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” – Exodus 33:14

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. – Matthew 11:28-30

 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. – Isaiah 26:3

Find Him today. Find him, stay there, and rest at His feet.

-LC