Courtney Hamilton
About the Author

Courtney lives with her husband and two children in Louisiana. She enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, and a good cup of coffee. She recently stepped out of full-time youth ministry and is writing about her journey on her blog, Grace Downstream. Stop by and say hello!

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
Recent Posts

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I left a full time position as well. I took care of the elderly and it nearly drained me and burned me out. I responded to the call of gods rest. but it’s only been a week and I’m fighting it and feeling guilty of not having the extra income. I have got to learn to rest and relax and surrender and trust in him. Thanks for you blog post.

    • Lori,

      I know how you feel. I, too, left a full time good paying job. My aging dad was having major medical issues. My soul yearned for spiritual whitespace to rest from craziness of work & “not knowing” of phone calls, hospitals, etc. I took 15.5 months off & was there for my dad. I used the time to get closer to God. Now I have a good part-time job. I don’t regret my decision. Understandably it can be hard without the second income, but God knows best. Trust in His perfect timing & plans. Praying that you will learn to surrender to God’s will & rest upon him for a while. May He bring peace into your life.

      (((((Hugs)))))

      • Thanks so much for these encouraging words and praying for me. It brought tears and joy to my heart.

  2. Courtney, I’m so encouraged by this post today. I’ll be sure to head over and check out your blog! Blessings to you in this season of seeking God in the quiet.

  3. There are so many days I would like to rest in His presence but the demands of life are pulling me in every direction. It’s been about 1 week now that I can honestly say that I am experiencing His peace. Something I haven’t felt in a very long time. I have kids, laundry needs to be done, chores around the house and I have a husband that is constantly on the go so it makes me feel guilty when I get burned out. Thank you for your encouraging words.

  4. Right there with ya! I resigned a full-time staff writer position in May, never knowing I would still be experiencing my season of rest at the end of July. It’s been an extremely humbling season having to ask for help. Many circumstances took place all the way back to November resulting in this decision. Thanks for such a timely blog post.

    • Yes! Your journey sounds much the same as mine! Maybe it’s the unexpected seasons that teach us more, when we’re not seemingly controlling it all ourselves.

  5. Thank you for this encouraging post ! I too left a full-time position this summer and was called into a season of rest, not knowing what my next job will be. I tend to be planner, do-er, organizer so I know it is God that has given me peace to rest in Him during this season, to stop trying to “do the next big thing” and simply rest in and trust Him and experience his joy.
    This summer I had memorized the Psalm you quoted, 62:5, but in the ESV “For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence”. It was such a blessing to read it in the NIV translation “Yes, my soul, find REST in God; my hope comes from him”.

  6. I am so encouraged by this Thank you for keeping me on track with the road to restoration! My son has surely put me through a lot over the past few years. I chose my one word for this year and that was “Restore”. As I contemplate God’s Word every day, I am reminded that HE’s the one that can repair, restore, mend, & heal broken relationships. I wait on HIM

  7. Rest is so important, mental and physical. I know from experience, so ladies, please rest. Don’t cave in to emotional pressures of to do lists, rest. God says you are worth it.

  8. I have to be honest. As a single parent, soul bread winner, burned out mentally and physically, I would LOVE to be able to answer the call of a season of rest. With all the responsibilities on my shoulder, I can’t. So those of you that can, rest and enjoy this season He has you in. I have to take moments of rest and refresh myself in small increments but how I,would love to not have never ending to do lists and things that have to get done. One day, I look forward to that call of a seasonal rest. Until then, I cherish my restful moments.

    • Thank you for sharing this! I don’t think rest always comes in a physical sense. Right before this season where I know God has called me to lay down a lot of striving, He called me into a season of full-time, super full ministry. I have two kids and a husband with all of those responsibilities as well…and autoimmune health issues that exacerbate all of it. What I’m learning through this transition is that true restoring rest comes to us in many ways. A big one for me IN the circumstances is resting my mind in Him, as in trusting that it’s not all on my shoulders all of the time. I don’t know if you resonate with that at all, but I just wanted to share a little more.

  9. Lori,

    Today’s world is all about rush, rush, rush, go, do, get. It is so easy to get burned out-even though you may be doing a lot for God. I believe God call us to rest to restore us back to Himself. Jesus often took time away from crowds to rest & be alone with God. If He needed that-how much more do we need that? God knows we all need rest & peace. This world doesn’t offer peace to our souls. Only God can do that.

    Blessings 🙂