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Learning to Rest: Embracing Limits, Finding Joy, and Recharging Fully
31 Plays2 months ago
In this week's episode, I'm joined by my friend Dani Jaye, author of It's Not Just a Man's World, for a deep and honest conversation about something many of us struggle with—learning how to truly rest. In a world that glorifies hustle, rest can feel like a luxury or even a weakness. But what if it’s actually a gift?
Are you feeling drained, exhausted, or constantly running on empty? Do you long for a different way of living—one that embraces limits, renewal, and joy? You're in the right place! Join us as we unpack why rest matters, how to embrace it without guilt, and what it means to find real restoration in your everyday life.
Resources mentioned:
It's Not Just A Man's World - Dani Jaye
To learn more about United Not Uniform, check out unitednotuniform.com!
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Transcript
Introduction to United Not Uniform Podcast
00:00:58
Speaker
You are listening to the United Not Uniform podcast. I am your host, Crystal. Each of us carries many stories, and we are not all the same. In this podcast, we will talk about faith, relationships, culture, and everything in between.
00:01:15
Speaker
You will sometimes laugh, agree, and or disagree. That's great! We were never meant to be uniform, but we can be united. Welcome to United Not Uniform, where there is more than enough space for us to be seen and to see others.
Welcoming Dani J
00:01:39
Speaker
Thank you all for joining us today at this week's episode of United Not Uniform. Now, I have a very, very special guest with me today, the one and only Dani J. Ooh, the one and only. I like that.
00:01:56
Speaker
So Dani J and I go way, way back. I'm going to let her tell you all the amazing things that she has done. But first, why don't you just tell us a little bit about yourself?
00:02:07
Speaker
Absolutely. Well, first, let me say hello to the United Not Uniform family and your wonderful podcast host, um Crystal. I am super excited to be here on um her podcast. It's so funny because we've been talking about doing these things in ministry for so long. And I'm like, look at my sis.
00:02:28
Speaker
She's actually doing it. And you were doing it too. so I just, it's one of those where it has just been such a fun season being able to see each other step into our calling and grow and learn. It's just been such a gift.
00:02:44
Speaker
It has been amazing to be um a part of your journey and to have you be a part of mine.
Dani J's Book and Podcast Plans
00:02:50
Speaker
um But just to give the audience a little bit of information on me, my name is Dani Chey.
00:02:55
Speaker
And I am the author of It's Not Just a Man's World. And that was really a passion project that God had placed on my heart to help women, particularly single Christian women who were dealing with um lust or sexual immorality and things of that nature. I just felt like a lot of the literature was geared more towards men. And I'm like, wait a minute.
00:03:20
Speaker
I know that there are some ladies out here who feel like I feel. And we need that same encouragement and devotion and deliverance. So if you don't see it, you create And that is where it's not just the man's world came from. um And if anybody has been walking with God for a long time, you know that he doesn't just give you one project to work on.
00:03:40
Speaker
So
00:03:43
Speaker
the next one in the queue is actually um I'm coming out with my own podcast and I'm Title to be determined.
00:03:53
Speaker
um i have a couple that I've been playing around with, but I'm really excited just to have real open, transparent conversations with single Christian women to talk about what does it look like when you're waiting in your single season um and how to just...
00:04:10
Speaker
navigate that in a way that is honoring to both God and to your body and that you're preparing yourself for whoever God has for you, not only just from a relationship perspective, but also um so walk in purpose because, you know, God created you to do something amazing on this earth.
00:04:29
Speaker
So what does that season look like as you're preparing for that? That is so good and so needed. because it's so easy, especially you all know that I work for a church.
00:04:40
Speaker
um Oftentimes, especially those who are single, especially if you're a woman, and especially if you were like older, you tend to get overlooked in a lot of a lot of ways, not intentionally, but there's not as much in like what does that discipleship look like in your waiting, in your active waiting.
00:04:59
Speaker
And so that's so exciting. im so I cannot wait. You know, I'm going be one of the first listeners. I cannot wait. And I encourage you all to listen. I'll be sure to share it with you all once ah the episode comes out.
00:05:12
Speaker
Thank you. I know I'm already selfishly. I'm like, we might need, well, we definitely need to have you come back and talk about. um your book. I'll also include a link in the description for Danny J's book.
00:05:23
Speaker
I encourage you to read it, please, please, please.
The Importance of Rest
00:05:26
Speaker
um Because it is to exactly what she said. We don't talk about it, especially with females, about our own struggle with lust and the fact that, um yeah, that there are things that I feel like in some ways we shy away from talking from, but that's where the enemy will love to attack. And We're not about that.
00:05:47
Speaker
Right. And so thank you so much for one, writing the book and being obedient ah obedient and writing it, because that also required you to be vulnerable in a lot of ways as well.
00:05:58
Speaker
So Danny J, we are here to talk about learning how to rest a because we're like so perfect at it. Right. I mean, we're amazing at it.
00:06:11
Speaker
The key word here for sure is that we are learning. And so if you all can relate, we're so glad that you're here. It is so hard to rest in today's world for sure.
00:06:22
Speaker
um But, you know, as we start to unpack both of our journeys in learning how to rest, I'd love Danny J for you to start off with um why you're leaning into resting and what it it is.
00:06:34
Speaker
What does it mean for you in the season? Absolutely. So I really feel like God was asking me to rest probably starting last year. I just had so many things on my plate. I was working full time.
00:06:50
Speaker
I was mentoring young ladies between the ages 11 13. was leading group at my church i was leading a group at my church um trying to work on the podcast and just all of the things. Right. And I think that sometimes we equate um busyness with productivity.
00:07:09
Speaker
So it's like, God, I'm doing all of these things that are good. um Like, why would you ever ask me to stop doing it? And what God had to reveal to me is that even though you are doing a good thing, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is a God thing.
00:07:25
Speaker
i mean It may not be what he has for you to do in that season. And do you trust him enough to step back from what he's asking you to step back from to really rest in him?
00:07:37
Speaker
And when I tell you that that has been the hardest process for me, um i had no idea that I didn't know how to rest. Even when I would try to rest, I felt guilty because...
00:07:53
Speaker
I was like, I could be doing something so much more productive with my time right now than resting. But what i was what I am slowly learning is that rest is actually a symbol of you trusting God, trusting God enough to stop in the process, knowing that your life is not going to completely blow up if you rest and that God is actually giving you that time.
00:08:18
Speaker
oop Sorry, my phone fell. Oh, no.
00:08:24
Speaker
but God is actually giving you that time to recruit recoup, um to recuperate, to prepare you for whatever is next. Yeah. Oh, that's so good.
00:08:35
Speaker
And I can definitely relate to the feelings of feeling guilty for resting. i remember I had the opportunity to go to an event called Rest Quest, and it was such a powerful time.
00:08:49
Speaker
um we had this block of time. It literally was like five or six hours. And it was like, okay, these hours are yours. And I'm like, what? I came to this conference. Like I'm ready to take my notes. I'm ready to like learn all these strategies for how I can rest.
00:09:06
Speaker
And the host was just like, no this is this is your time to rest in whatever ways that you need. yeah So whether that's you go up into your room and you take a five hour nap, you take five hour nap.
00:09:18
Speaker
Whether that's you sit by the water, whether that's you write or you read, you rest however you need to rest and know that it is, um I'm trying to use it the words that she used, ah but like that that is still a form of worship in the sense that I'm trusting God enough.
00:09:39
Speaker
i mean, the amount of times I'm going through the Old Testament and the amount of times that God is You see how God gives his people rest. He asks for his people to rest. Like it's all throughout scripture.
00:09:50
Speaker
And yet is so hard for us to do. It's just the way that we've been programmed, like, especially in Western culture, like everything is grind, grind, grind. You got to grind to get it, grind to get the bag, you know, grind to secure your coins, like all these things. And it's so funny. One day God was like, have you ever seen me use grind in the Bible?
00:10:11
Speaker
o Like ever. Yeah. that Right. And I was like, and I mean, there's a scripture that says, you know, if you don't work, you don't eat. Right.
00:10:21
Speaker
Yeah. God is not calling us to be lazy and not work at all. Yeah. And he might do something different.
Conflict Between Culture and Rest
00:10:27
Speaker
Yeah. And he's not averse to you working hard, but there is something to be said about taking the rest that you need.
00:10:35
Speaker
um so that you're not burning yourself out. And I just feel like there are so many people and maybe even Christians who are at burnout or on the verge of burnout because we don't know when to stop and rest.
00:10:48
Speaker
Yeah. I know, especially... it's really hard, especially say if a church is planted in a culture or um a region that prioritizes not to slow down and unintentionally the place that's meant to be a place of rest, of renewal, you know, activation and charge. We're not just like, it's not just a social club, right? The church is meant to be a place of healing and a place for the sick, but unintentionally it can start to mimic the culture.
00:11:21
Speaker
where you have like five or six church events every night, or like there's all these commitments or you serve beyond your capacity. It becomes more like how you're operating in the world.
00:11:32
Speaker
um And so I do think that this conversation of not only learning how to rest, but how do you incorporate rhythms of rest is so important. Yeah. Yes. Yes.
00:11:43
Speaker
I kind of already jumped to the third question, but is there anything else that you wanted to add um with why do you think it's so hard for us to rest? I think um it's hard for us to rest.
00:11:58
Speaker
Again, I just think it's that that grind culture. And it's funny because what God was revealing to me in this process is, I might be a little bit of a control freak, didn't know that.
00:12:12
Speaker
Yeah. The way that you will be humbled. I'm speaking from experience. Listen, I'm like the way Holy Spirit will chin check me. I'm just like, ooh, okay. That's me?
00:12:26
Speaker
Yes. But I didn't realize that that's what I was doing. I was i was really trying to prove that I could handle it all. Like i am super woman. Like I can...
00:12:40
Speaker
lead the mentorship. I can lead the team. I can lead the group. I can do well at work. I can do all of these things. But at the end of the day, i was so exhausted and it was cutting into my time of intimacy with him.
00:12:55
Speaker
So anything that is taking you away from being able to sit with Holy Spirit is already in the wrong place. It's not like your priorities.
00:13:07
Speaker
um are messed up because I'm not going to be able to do anything um from a place of overflow if I'm operating in a place of deficit yeah when it comes to intimacy with Holy Spirit. like Everything starts with Him.
00:13:25
Speaker
And so if you're trying to sustain something in your own strength, it is inevitable that you are going to reach that place where you're like, I don't have anything else left to give.
00:13:36
Speaker
Right. Oh, that's so, so good.
Challenges in Achieving Rest
00:13:39
Speaker
Yeah. I know for me, the inability to rest is oftentimes tied to my identity, tied to pride.
00:13:48
Speaker
And by identity, I mean the ones that I have chosen or have been placed upon me. um Identity outside of Christ, just to be clear. And so i think in a lot of ways, there's that overachiever, overperformer. i think I love what you said, Danny J, about you know, proving that you are super woman.
00:14:07
Speaker
And I think that also can parallel very closely, especially if you were single. Yes. um Especially as a single female, um that we can show that we have it all together. I know for me, sometimes I'll use um what I can accomplish to hide the fact that, you know, I do feel lonely or desire marriage or that there are other parts of my life that don't look how I would have hoped or envisioned.
00:14:30
Speaker
And, you know, I'm going to say control too. Absolutely. And very similarly, but Lord has humbled me in a lot of ways. yeah And, but there's just something about that identity piece. And there was a moment that when I was on the same retreat where um I'm sitting at this, it's like this really old church. It's such a tiny, small building. There's maybe only like, like four pews can fit in it. It's so small. And I'm sitting there.
00:14:59
Speaker
It's the beginning of the five hours I was mentioning earlier. And I am just filled with anxiety. I'm just like, ah how do I rest? What does this look like? I don't know what to rest. like i want to be like I want to be obedient. I don't want to fail.
00:15:11
Speaker
I want to do this right. Even the approach of I want to do rest right is- Listen, I was just thinking the same thing. I was like, how do you approach rest? Like, I want to get this right. But to your point, it's because we've we've become so performative, right?
00:15:27
Speaker
And it's like, I know even for me, I was like, God, I don't want to disappoint you in what you're asking me to do. but this is really hard for me. Yeah. Honestly, I tell me I tell people all the time as like, I'm recovering from perfectionism. It is a daily thing. Right. yeah And I just remember, i was just like, Lord, like, do I deserve rest?
00:15:47
Speaker
Come on, Crystal. Let's unpack that. Yeah. I mean, I think in a lot of ways, especially for those of you now, we do know that there are people who listen to, you know, not uniform, who may not be Christian or may not have made that decision.
00:16:01
Speaker
um And I'm planning a separate series where we do more of unpacking those who have come to faith in their story, because I think that's so important to hear the journeys that we've been on. um But especially like using my own story as a reference, when I had walked away um from the church, where I walked away from God and, you know, coming back and and in choosing Christ for myself as an adult and leaning in, there was still this belief that I had to prove myself and to make up for the time that I was away. Complete lie, complete lie.
00:16:36
Speaker
Yeah. um But believed it to my core. And so when I'm, when I'm there um at this retreat that I was able to go to because of the like role I have at my church that makes time for me to rest.
00:16:50
Speaker
I'm like feeling so guilty. I'm like, how do I get to rest? How do i get to, you know, I still need to make up and, Holy Spirit was just like, you get to rest too. Yeah.
00:17:02
Speaker
My rest is a gift. You don't have to earn it. You get to rest. Yes. And I feel like that's something that we need to sit in. It's a gift.
00:17:14
Speaker
It's a gift that we get to rest and not have to produce all the time, not have to grind. when you As you're using the word grind, it's just this idea of like, i think about this image of like, like it's almost like bone on bone, like grinding, like you're wearing out, right?
00:17:31
Speaker
Yeah. um And yeah, it's just, and to me in a lot of ways, you know, as Danny J and I said at the beginning of the podcast, ah we are learning emphasis is on learning. So if you're learning, welcome. um Um, yeah and so, you know, it is a daily thing. And I do think in a lot of ways, sometimes it's a seasonal
God's Timing and Relationship
00:17:50
Speaker
thing.
00:17:50
Speaker
Um, especially when I feel like God is calling me into so much, uh, Danny J, you had said, um earlier, like there are all these projects that, um, God will give you. And it takes discernment in knowing, like oftentimes God will give us the vision before necessarily he's calling us to act in it.
00:18:07
Speaker
Right. I know. Oh, we sing. Yeah. um And in my, you know, wanting to, you know, excel and and do all good things for the Lord.
00:18:20
Speaker
Sometimes, you know, I get a little ahead of the steps. I get ahead. yeah ah And can we, before you go on, I don't mean to cut you off, but jump on in can we talk about that a little bit? will Give us a glimpse, a vision, a word.
00:18:36
Speaker
in because we programmed to just go to do to execute. Yep. We're out of step. We're out of season. And I love how my pastor always puts it.
00:18:49
Speaker
He says. He says, sit with God and ask him follow-up questions. Like, is that for right now? Am I supposed to, you know, is that for in the future? You know, what do you want me to do with that vision? What do you want me to do with that instruction? Like we never sit and have the conversation about, is this for now?
00:19:08
Speaker
We're just like, oh, you showed it to me. That means that I need to go do it now. And then we don't even sit to ask Holy Spirit, like, what is the game plan? What is the strategy? Like we just go based off of what we've done in the past, like previous patterns.
00:19:23
Speaker
Like, okay, I know I can reach out to this person or I have this network over here. And Holy Spirit may be like, that's not how I wanted you to do it. And then we get frustrated because we're like, well, you gave me this word and you gave me this vision. I'm not understanding why it's not coming together.
00:19:37
Speaker
And Holy Spirit is like, you didn't sit to get the whole word from me. You didn't sit to get the strategy, what I needed you to do on step one.
00:19:48
Speaker
but you're already out the door. um no, no. Sit with me.
00:19:55
Speaker
Because it's so true. Yeah. The heart, and and I do want to acknowledge, I think what i know, the heart is in the right place. like Wanting to be obedient.
00:20:07
Speaker
I do also think sometimes that motivation of wanting to rush into it is also from fear, at least for me.
00:20:15
Speaker
But when you are out of step with God, and we try to do it in our own, the best of intentions will fall flat. And you will run yourself ragged trying to do it in your own strength.
00:20:29
Speaker
Easy, easy. And also when you were talking, the I was prompted, it made me think of, I've been really sitting in the space of remembering the friendship and like how there's a relationship that we have with God.
00:20:46
Speaker
There is a relationship. And if confided or revealed something to a friend and they just kept, they just took off and went without me consistently, like how used I would feel.
00:21:05
Speaker
know I mean? Yeah. Yeah. like It's not about like what we can take. It's not meant to be transactional. It's meant to be relational. um Can you say that again for the people in the back?
00:21:17
Speaker
I know it hit me too. Girl. It is meant to be relational, not transactional. And so a good thing that was meant to bless us, that was meant to um not only be a source of life for us, but to bless other people becomes our biggest pain point because we're operating outside of relationship.
00:21:36
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:39
Speaker
There is a scripture that is just like ringing in my spirit. And I'm not going lie to you. I had to look it up because I didn't want to mess it up. That's fine. That's fine. It 2, 27.
00:21:50
Speaker
And it's when Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So to your point earlier in our discussion, when you were saying that rest is a gift, it is. The Sabbath was created for man to be able to rest from you know, their work.
00:22:10
Speaker
And so instead of looking at it as something that I have to earn or something that um takes away from my productivity, like you said, we have to look at it as a gift and use it as such.
00:22:24
Speaker
Yep. That's so good. So good. So i'm going to ask you a really hard question.
Exploring Different Types of Rest
00:22:30
Speaker
Oh, we love those. Yay. I know, right? How would you define rest?
00:22:37
Speaker
Ooh. We've been kind of hinting at, like we've been talking about doing less, but it seems like it's more than that, right? A thousand percent. So I'm going to do a shameless plug here. um My wonderful therapist has me reading this book called Sacred Rest.
00:22:54
Speaker
ashna Yes. And it's crazy because before reading the book, if you would have asked me that question, I would have easily said that rest is sleep. right Being able to, even though this is something that you can't do to quote unquote catch up on sleep, not possible.
00:23:12
Speaker
um But what I'm learning from reading this book is that rest is not just sleep, but there are different types of rest. And depending on where you are and what season you're in, you may need different types of rest.
00:23:27
Speaker
So the book talks about, you know obviously physical rest. And can we talk about how we don't listen to our bodies? That part. When our bodies are like, hey, I need a break.
00:23:39
Speaker
I'm breaking down. i need rest. And we just push our our poor little bodies. well just I'll just push more. yeah and no I can do it. One more email. One more event. Yeah, like one more errand.
00:23:51
Speaker
One more, um you know, ministry event. Like one more thing that I have to do. Like, it's fine. Like, you know, what did um i'm I'm thinking of making a band and, you know, this is BCT before Christ transformation.
00:24:05
Speaker
So you went making a band? How old is that? i know I'm definitely dating myself. Oh, gosh. um But there was like a quote on the wall and it was talking about like how I can sleep when I'm dead.
00:24:17
Speaker
Oh, that's terrible. That is not kingdom. just say that. That is not kingdom at all. Like all the time. That's crazy. It's crazy. So yeah, the um the book talks about physical rest, mental rest, emotional, spiritual, social, sensory, and creative rest.
00:24:37
Speaker
And I was like, I had no idea that there were all these different types of rest in just trying to figure out like which one you need, because I'm in a season now where my time is kind of my own and i can get the physical rest.
00:24:53
Speaker
But have you ever, let's say you went to sleep, you got the full, you know, eight to 10 hours, whatever is recommended now, but you still wake up and you don't feel rested.
00:25:03
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. And that's your that is your um indicator that, OK, it's not physical rest that I need. It's something else. So how how do I do emotional rest?
00:25:14
Speaker
How do I do mental rest? How do I do sensory rest? Like I need to figure out what kind of rest I need so that I can be rejuvenated in the way that I'm supposed to. That's so good. That's so good.
00:25:26
Speaker
That mental rest is a big one. because i found myself, i was like, like it was to the point where I would wake up in the middle of the night and then I couldn't sleep. how What is going on? yeah it is like, we don't think about mental rest.
00:25:42
Speaker
And so, i mean, at least how, again, I am not as far along in the book. yeah so I might be telling myself a little bit, but like the things that take up our like mental rest is more of what is taking up our our mind, the thoughts that we have, the the projects, all the things that we need to do.
00:26:01
Speaker
And I think I remember reading that even one of the solutions was before going to bed, writing those things out. Yeah. Yeah. Writing them out. Yeah. So you're almost like releasing them.
00:26:14
Speaker
I'm just curious, is there a type of rest, ah Danny J, that you found that you've needed the most in this particular season? Yes, it was emotional rest.
00:26:24
Speaker
Really? Oh my gosh, a thousand percent. So in the back of the book, ive there's like a quiz that you take and you answer these questions um to determine like what kind of rest you need.
00:26:38
Speaker
And as I was looking at some of the statements under emotional rest, I was like, oh my gosh, like, yes, I i feel like all of this. um And so it was saying for like emotional rest, like you just need to take a break. So let me just say this.
00:26:57
Speaker
I love people, right? I love porn. yeah But no, I'm just kidding. Yeah.
00:27:09
Speaker
Oh, my gosh. So i I love pouring into people. I love being around people, um you know, seeing them grow and in all of that good, wonderful stuff that comes with being in relationship with people.
00:27:22
Speaker
But i think sometimes in my superwoman syndrome that I am overcoming and surrendering to the Lord. Amen. Amen. I can try to be there for people and lose myself in the process, meaning I'm strong enough to handle whatever it is that you're going through.
00:27:43
Speaker
um But I don't create time and space for me to really sit with my own emotions to figure out what I need. And so I'll pour and I'll pour and I'll pour.
00:27:54
Speaker
And then my vessel is like empty because I'm not pouring back into myself. Yeah, that's so good. Yeah. um, I can agree with you on, on the emotional for sure, especially, you know, in seasons where, you know, there's just been a lot of like grief and loss and lament in a lot of the people around me.
00:28:18
Speaker
um And realizing, okay, what can I carry? Well, first of all, let me rephrase it. Jesus is one who carries it. ah Who I'm meant to pour into, who I'm not, but I can bring other people um to pour in.
00:28:33
Speaker
And what is it what am I doing in my quiet time? And if I don't have any quiet time, that's a whole other conversation. i think another um rest that I'm trying to lean a little bit more into is, you know um as I've shared on the podcast, I really love Poetry and spoken word. I love to write.
00:28:51
Speaker
um i love to to play instruments and music and worship that way. But creative rest, ah I was thinking, i was like oh, it's the time that I have to do these things.
00:29:03
Speaker
no No, no, no, no, You are appreciating beauty that already is things have already been created. yeah And so even in that type of rest, I was still producing.
00:29:17
Speaker
it's not bad like it's like an active active creativity active like that's that's okay to create but there's just also something about being able to just sit in beauty that didn't have to create yes that I love being by the water like that is my happy place that's good and we we had the pleasure of taking a trip to Greece last year was so fun oh my god you all the food of and Oh, I miss the food.
00:29:50
Speaker
and might Even just so I love a good sunset over water. It just reminds me of the artistry of Christ and how like how did you even think to to make that masterpiece just to see the sun?
00:30:06
Speaker
And it's rays like reflecting off of the water and just like the different colors in the sky when the sun is setting. And then even thinking about like, okay, the sun is setting over here, but it's rising in another place in the earth.
00:30:20
Speaker
I'm just like, you are amazing and awesome. And like only a God like you, the one true living God, the most high God, let's make that clear. um It could come up with that concept.
00:30:34
Speaker
um So I love you better preach in the middle middle of you answering this question. You snuck it in there, but I heard it. I'm just like, I'm just so in awe of like what he has created. It's just like you like, ah it's so, it's so beautiful. It is absolutely beautiful.
00:30:55
Speaker
And it's a reminder that it's not up all up to us. Yes. i feel like in a lot of ways, kind of going back to what we were saying earlier, when we get these visions or this call from God, that we then feel like it's up to us to execute it, right?
00:31:12
Speaker
It's up to us to to do all these things. Now there is agency required, right? um But we're meant to do it with God as co-laborers, right? um And whenever I'm able to look at beauty and something that was created that I didn't have to make. I'm reminded, not only of the gift of rest and that I get to just experience like what, what a loving God that we would have so much beauty around us. Right. Yeah.
00:31:42
Speaker
Um, But that I'm also reminded that i am I get to be a piece of it, that I'm part of it. That I'm part of the beautiful creation that he has made, right? And so that's become one that is very sweet. They all are valuable.
00:31:57
Speaker
We all need all forms of rest. um But I think especially as I've been stepping more into being more creative as part of a ministry um and that the things that I used to do in just quiet time with the Lord are now becoming something that I'm starting to lead other people in. It's very easy um to lose the beauty. um Yeah. Oh my gosh.
00:32:22
Speaker
Yeah. Yes. And we, i think sometimes we project onto God that he is just like this very complex being. Now, don't get me wrong. You know, his ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts, right?
00:32:35
Speaker
Absolutely. He is a supreme being. But you can see God in the most simplest things. Like, true where
Reprogramming Mindsets
00:32:45
Speaker
was I at? I think I was outside of my church yesterday. And um just even looking at the cherry blossoms, I was just like, those are so beautiful. Like I could see God in the beauty of a cherry blossom.
00:32:57
Speaker
You know, when I'm taking a walk around my neighborhood, I can see God in the beauty of, you know, nature and things that he's created. And, you know, reading a good book, like God, God can preach through anything. can reach you.
00:33:12
Speaker
through anything as long as you remain open and sensitive that his presence is always near. That's so true. There was a moment I was sitting on my couch. I wasn't even doing anything. i was sitting on my couch.
00:33:25
Speaker
And you guys know that I have two cats mainly because one of them loves to sing when I do podcast recordings. ah He's wild. Um, but we were just sitting on the couch it was just calm and the sun was shining through the window and I'm sitting in this home that God had blessed me with.
00:33:43
Speaker
And all I had, like, I just got to just sit in that moment and just reflect and just be reminded of like, oh my gosh, God, look at not only how you bless me,
00:33:55
Speaker
um But that in this moment of rest, I just am both feeling so seen and also part of something so much bigger than myself. Yeah. Yeah.
00:34:06
Speaker
Ah, so good. So good. So my next question, just love this. This is good. and What has been something you have learned about yourself during this time of learning how to rest?
00:34:22
Speaker
Oh, yeah. how much more time do we have? I know. was like, we might need part two just for that. Right. Um, I would say something that I'm learning about myself during this time of learning how to rest is that there was a reprogramming that needed to happen, um, in my mindset about what rest is and that it's not something that you have to earn, but that God freely gives it to us.
00:34:51
Speaker
Yeah. That's good. I had to learn how to surrender some things. um I had to learn how to trust God. Like, I think that I thought that I had, excuse me, a semblance of trusting God, right? Like I grew up in church, you know, i know, i know the Lord. um I'm definitely deepening my relationship with him, especially now as I get older. And it's not just about traditions, but it's about relationship.
00:35:20
Speaker
Yeah. and What I come to realize is that I trusted him in some areas, but I didn't trust him in in all areas. a And me being able to surrender those things, to surrender those areas and actually rest is helping me to trust him more and to build my faith.
00:35:42
Speaker
Like, um I think we were talking about the song. I don't know if it was you and I or another friend where it's like, um he's never failed me yet. And I was just like, I don't I don't like that yet part because it's an indication that he might.
00:35:58
Speaker
And I'm like, he never will. And so I'm just like had that afterwards. I don't know who added that, but take it.
00:36:09
Speaker
Wait, or am I thinking of a different song? I might be. It's like, he's never failed me yet. Never failed me yet. Jesus Christ never failed me yet.
00:36:23
Speaker
Okay. First of all, the way that you just had bars, that's insane.
00:36:28
Speaker
I'm over here with my scratchy voice. She goes, okay. All right. You are hilarious. Oh man, y'all getting a show today. how my but Follow Crystal on Patreon for the full call.
00:36:45
Speaker
that's why We're to have things of worship on Patreon. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. But so I was thinking of a different song because there is a song where it uses similar language, but it comes in, it goes, and he never will. He never will.
00:36:59
Speaker
Your point is so spot on. Yeah. Because that little bit of doubt. Yes. Enemy can run amok in it.
00:37:10
Speaker
But it's like, if you understand the consistency of his character Like he is never going to not be who he is. Like he is faithful. He is loving. He is kind. He is a provider. He is a protector.
00:37:24
Speaker
those That is who he is. He's never going to not be that. And so I think a lot of times we project onto him. maybe how we feel about the situation and thinking that he's going to respond in the way that we would.
00:37:38
Speaker
But that's not him. He's not us. He operates outside of all of the craziness that is human beings. Yeah. Yeah. I want you really. I'm going to have to use the phrase that the kids use when you're standing 10 toes down.
00:37:58
Speaker
you i was stay And who he is and that he will forever be faithful to that. It's easy. It becomes easier. Let me say it's not easier because there's some stuff that we holding on to because we think that we can take care of it better than him. But listen, that's a whole nother episode.
00:38:20
Speaker
Yeah. and i And I think this becomes, again, I've been sitting a lot in the Old Testament and really looking at, especially some passages that I've struggled with in the past, just because it's been hard for my human heart to comprehend.
00:38:38
Speaker
And Tara Lee Cobble has ah this ah platform she calls Bible Recap, which I think does, we're doing all the plugs today. so me yeah I know, it was hashtag not sponsored. but would like
00:38:54
Speaker
But she does this, um how she has us reading the Bible has been super transformative for me because it's all about what am I learning about God's character?
Understanding God's Character
00:39:06
Speaker
So when I get to those stories and I get to those parts of scripture that are just really hard for my human heart to understand, I'm looking at it in the context of who God is, is, and has revealed his character to be.
00:39:22
Speaker
And it becomes easier. it like like you said earlier, it becomes easier, not always easy. Right. And I don't always fully understand, but it becomes less about the situation that I'm reading about.
00:39:34
Speaker
and more about the overarching character of who God is. Yes. Yes. Who he has revealed himself to be in his heart for his people. not And so it makes it easier than in my own storm, because there are going to be things that break our hearts. are going be things that are challenging painful and but to know that we have a God that is with us in it, um that his character does not change who he is, does not change. Yeah.
00:40:04
Speaker
Yeah. And I think that's all oftentimes um where the tension happens, where I've seen so many people of faith struggle or walk away because,
00:40:18
Speaker
the character of God, who they believe God to be and what their life looks like because they believe who God to be doesn't line up with what's actually happening. And so, again, I think that's, we keep spout spouting off different episodes. So this i and we can absolutely dig into our misperceptions of God yeah um and how we don't have a realistic view of what Christian life is supposed to be.
00:40:48
Speaker
Because it's not all rainbows and sunshine when you sign up for this life. No. And you have to you have to go into that you have to go into it knowing that, but also understanding that you have a loving father.
00:41:04
Speaker
And with any good parent, like think about your mom and your dad, right? They did their best to prepare you for this world. to shield you from certain things so that you could so that you could enjoy your childhood experience.
00:41:19
Speaker
But they cannot shield you from everything. But what they can be is that support. They can be that love. They can be that comfort that you need in those challenging times.
00:41:31
Speaker
And that's what God is. He said, in this world, you will have trouble. You will have trials, but take heart because I have overcome the world. So in those moments where it feels like it's too much,
00:41:44
Speaker
In those moments where you feel sad, where you feel frustrated, where you feel anxious, like God is like, I am big enough for all of that. Come back to me. Come to me and find that comfort.
00:41:55
Speaker
Come to me and find that rest. Come to me and find that rejuvenation. Like everything that you need is right here at the feet of your father. We spend so much time in the wilderness trying to figure it out on our own.
00:42:08
Speaker
And we cause ourselves so much undue stress. When all you have to do is come back to the feet of a good father who wants to take that burden off of you, to take those cares off of you so that he can you know reposition you so that he can re-armor you up to go back out into the battlefield.
00:42:27
Speaker
And we we're on the battlefield with bruises and wounds and tattered armor when we need to go back to base, to the feet of our father, to get what we need to go back out.
00:42:39
Speaker
Come on, mom. as that was I was right there with you. I was like, my preaching soapbox. I'm here for it. And I will, I will also add for those of you who maybe did not have earthly parents that were loving and protective.
00:42:58
Speaker
Our prayer and our hope is that as you read God's word, as you get to learn more of his character, you can feel not only read, but feel and experience it his heart for you.
Conclusion: Peace in Trusting God
00:43:13
Speaker
Yeah. um Because I always think that's important as well too, um to note. I will say also answering, and I think you teed it up perfectly, j Danny J. the um I think something that I've learned about, especially in the season of learning how to rest, is not only to be aware of my limitations, but love them yeah oh that's so good personal i'm limited because it's allowed me when i do have conversations and when i do pour out to people the amount of depth i'm able to provide right like it feels deeper i'm able to be present in a way i haven't been before right um is it with as many people no right
00:43:59
Speaker
but for the ones that God has entrusted or the spirit has put on my heart to reach out to, I'm able to be present in a way, um, that is real, that is authentic, um, that is loving while also being able to rest and be poured back into in a way I wouldn't have even imagined. Right. And so I think that's something that it took a little bit time and one, like being like, like having to address the pride and be reminded that I am limited.
00:44:27
Speaker
i and learning that these limitations are not because I'm not enough or but not because again, taking off this broken aspect of identity that I've taken on, but rather in itself, it is a gift that we have limits because it allows God, again, scripture says, um God's power is made perfect in our weakness.
00:44:50
Speaker
yes And it allows his glory to be known and to be shown, not only in our own lives, But I believe through our lives so that other people can be blessed as well. So good.
00:45:03
Speaker
Yeah. So, you know, I'm so sad to wrap this up. Obviously, we have to have Danny J back, clearly. Yay! ah But I wanted to just open up to see if there was anything else you would like to share, anything maybe we didn't get to cover that's on your heart that you'd like to share with United Not Uniform.
00:45:22
Speaker
No, I think that this has been a beautifully delightful conversation. um I think what I would leave the United Not Uniform audience with is to take advantage of rest in God and how there is so much peace when you are able to do that. Yeah. Yeah.
00:45:46
Speaker
I know Crystal has been talking about getting into his word. That is the most beautiful love letter that you will ever read. um it just shows you God's heart for his people, his heart for you, um that he has amazing plans for your life.
00:46:04
Speaker
And part of that journey is learning to trust him, learning to rest in him to just to see the beautiful things that he will do in you, through you and for you, that that is the life that we sign up for when we sign up to be Christians.
00:46:25
Speaker
no, it's not always easy, um but it's so worth it. It's absolutely worth it because god God's love for us is just beautiful. It's so beautiful. It's so unconditional.
00:46:38
Speaker
And my prayer would be that you would you would be able to experience like the manifested presence of God whenever you go into prayer, whenever you read his word, um when you're in community with like-minded people, like they should be bringing you closer to God and closer to um being able to experience his nearness even more in your day-to-day life.
00:47:06
Speaker
Amen. Oh, so good. Thank you so much, Danny J. It was my pleasure, Crystal. I'm so proud of you. So awesome.
00:47:17
Speaker
So thank you all so much for listening to this episode of United Not Uniform. Remember, there was always enough space for you to be seen and to see others. See you all next time.