Every year on my birthday, I ask God to speak to me a word that will be my motto or focus for that year. This year my birthday came at a time when I had just had a newborn (I am still in this fog, by the way) and eager for God to give me vision and direction for the year ahead (which I know may prove to be an intense one in many ways).

This is the Scripture that The Lord has graciously given to me for my 36th year of life and I wanted to share it with you today in hopes that it will help to provide you with new vision and purpose as well:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)

Learning the Unforced Rhythms of Grace

This phrase, “learn the unforced rhythms of grace” began to marinate in my soul as I seemed to repeat it again and again over the next several days. I knew that this is what God is challenging me to learn and yet there is a mystery involved.

How does one learn these rhythms? I looked up the definition of “rhythm” in the dictionary and it was quite helpful in providing me with some insight. It is “a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.”

My mind immediately leapt to my daughter and her violin practice every day. As she picks up her instrument and bow every day, she repeats the same movements, notes, sounds. They form together to become rhythms, tempos, songs. She learns to “ride the rhythm” of the songs the more that she repeats them, day after day, note after note.

She forgets these rhythms if she stops practicing. “Mom, can you play that song again? I can’t seem to remember the tune,” she may say.

Rhythms of Daily Life

God has called us each to play a specific piece, if you will, again and again in this season. Your piece will look different than mine, your rhythm may be faster or slower, louder or softer – but there will be a rhythm to what He has called you to do.

My task (and your task, too!) if I will choose to accept it is to discover the rhythm He beckons me to play and to play it well, again and again, each and every day.

Once I get into that rhythm of grace, that rhythm of rest, how will I know when I am moving away from it? Catch the word “unforced” in the passage above. When I try to force something to happen where there is no grace, no energy, no margin to achieve it, it is simply out of the rhythm of life God is calling me to in this season. When I try to carry heavy burdens to prove that I am capable, sufficient, or strong instead of bearing the “easy and light” yoke that comes from His sustaining presence and His irrevocable calling, I shift and buckle under the weight.

Those around me may bear the consequences as a result.

If you hear yourself saying how hard or unbearable life is, that may be a good indicator that you have stepped out of the “unforced rhythm” of God’s grace and picked up some burdens He isn’t calling you to bear. It may also be that you are trying to carry it all without His help and guidance.

The year ahead of us is sure to be a messy, challenging, beautiful one: full of love, tears, adventure, beauty and joy – if we choose to find a daily rhythm of life and carry a load that suits the back that God gave us.

One day we may carry more and one day we may carry less – but that matters not. What has God entrusted to you today? Are you reveling in it? Carrying it joyfully? Bearing it with grace? Let go of any excess baggage and enjoy your journey – starting NOW.