I have been thinking I need to cut back on coffee. I haven’t been sleeping well and feel better when I watch my caffeine intake.

It’s Not Just About the Coffee

It is a no-brainer; just drink less. But I can’t quite do it. I really want to find a substitute. Tea? Well, that gives me heartburn. Milo? Full of sugar. Drinking chocolate? Back to the sugar problem. Then I go around in circles, having not solved my problem, generally with a cup of coffee in hand.

I wanted to figure out why this was such a thing for me. My sleep significantly improves, and my health is better when I do not drink excessive amounts of caffeine. Stop drinking coffee and drink water instead. Easy right? It suddenly occurred to me that it’s not about the coffee.

The Pause That Matters

It’s about the experience. The smell triggers associations in my mind with taking time out of my day. There is something about taking the first sip of a hot coffee that I associate with just letting the world stop for a second. I love just breathing in, with my hands around the mug, watching the steam rise. I know that coffee means pausing in the middle of a chaotic workday. In that moment, I don’t have to solve it all.

In Sweden, there is a term for this. The word is Fika. Fika functions as both a verb and a noun for the Swedes. It is about slowing down and taking a break from your work. It’s not just about having a coffee but the whole experience of making time to take a break. Fika is ingrained in Swedish culture; you can take it with friends or alone, and it generally involves some baked goods. More than anything, Fika is intentional, purposeful, and a restful pause in the day.

It’s not the coffee I need, it’s the whole experience. The small, purposeful moments of pausing in my day are restful in the middle of chaos. I may need to embrace something completely new as part of the experience because it’s not just about the coffee.

Do you have a routine for taking small moments to rest in your day?

Article supplied with thanks to Lorrene McClymont.

About the Author: Lorrene McClymont is a writer and photographer from Hope Images. On her blog ‘Moments to Rest’, she shares about rest, faith, and family.

Feature image: Canva

We live in a world full of restlessness, fear, and instability. Yet, as Christians, Jesus offers us peace amidst it all. As Christians, not only do we have access to this peace, but we are also called to reflect it to others who are longing for stability and hope in a chaotic world.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Peace is one of the greatest gifts God gave to mankind. And it’s a gift we can share with those around us who are searching for meaning and rest. Yet, often we can feel far from peace. So how do we as Christians live from the place of peace that Jesus describes? Erwin McManus illustrates it well when he speaks about worship, and how genuine worship can create a shift of responsibility in our thinking.

When we are feeling overwhelmed by life, feeling the stress, anxiety, and the despair, McManus says it’s because we have taken on responsibility for things that we do not have the power to carry. So how do we shift the burden and draw on the peace Jesus offers?

Let it Go

Erwin explains when we take on the stressors it’s like we pitch a horizontal roof over our life. When the rain falls, it gets heavy and our roof collapses. Yet, if we shift our roof to be more vertical, aka, connect with God. It causes the rain to pour off to the side and water all the fields around it, growing a harvest that eventually bears fruit. When we live from a place of peace, it becomes evident to those around us. Our lives can spark curiosity and open doors for conversations about the source of our peace—Jesus.

Re-align

Worshipping God teaches our soul to shift our roof vertically. This helps us to re-align our internal narrative too, “This is bigger than me. This is not mine to bear. I’m going to give it to God.” which can provide a sense of peace even in the chaos. As you re-align and experience God’s peace, consider how you can gently point others to Him through your own example and words.

Practice

When the stressors of life start to take over your peace, practice the art of refining your soul worship so that when the rain comes, you can continue to be peacemakers who create fruit within the storm.

In practicing the art of resting in God’s peace, we not only nurture our own souls but also demonstrate to others the hope and security found in Jesus.

Who in your life might benefit from hearing about the peace that Jesus offers?

How are you practicing the art of resting in God’s peace in this season?

Article supplied with thanks to yesHEis.

About the Author: yesHEis provides various resources to help share your faith in relatable ways.

Feature image: Canva