This Is Not What I Expected It To Be!
Happy New Year! Up until about a week ago, I felt 100% sure what my one word for 2021 would be. I had it etched in my memory and had even drafted a corresponding blog post. But as I thought more, prayed more, waited more, I realized although I need – and we all need – the one word I’d originally chosen, it isn’t my one word for the year. Completing my personal retreat helped to solidify that I needed to dig a bit deeper to identify my true one word for the upcoming season.
I thought my one word would be rest. How fitting! 2020 was a lot for most of us and instead of starting the year with the hustle and bustle of new goals, new resolutions, and new ventures, why not embrace a lifestyle of consistent rest? For a person who works Monday – Friday or five days a week, this amounts to about 260 work days each year. Let’s say your employer is generous enough to offer two weeks of paid vacation and you get an additional 10 or so days of federal holidays. That leaves us with about 240 work days or 48 weeks of work. How can four weeks of rest properly restore us for 240 days of work? You’re right, it can’t. And even if you don’t work a traditional job, how often do you take time for consistent periods of rest beyond a once or twice a year vacation?
We can cultivate lives of rest – or Sabbath. This may look like spending an hour or so each evening watching your favorite show, spending time with family, or reading a book. Perhaps it looks like turning your phone alerts off and limiting social media for a few hours a day. Maybe you completely unplug one day a week and allow time for worship, prayer, reflection, and planning for the week ahead. Or even better, what if you carved out one weekend a month with no recreational activities, no practices to shuffle the kids to and from, or no commitments with girlfriends. Just time to be still. To rest.
No matter what your stillness looks like, I can assure you we need more than two weeks per year of it. As we begin the year can you make room to cultivate a little more stillness and a lot more rest?
Oh, one last thing. My one word for the year is: WAIT. Even more fitting for me :-). My anchoring verse is Isaiah 40:31: But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. While my one word is “wait” I will still choose to rest, often and for longer periods. Will you join me?
Have you chosen a one word for 2021? If so, spill the beans and post your one word in the comments section below.
Lauren
I always enjoy your stories on Instagram! Thank you for all your encouraging posts; I love the prayers you have on there. 💗
Thank you so much for the reminder to rest. Sometimes I get anxious about things and try to stay distracted and what I truly need to do is to rest and refocus on God. I also love your word for the year, wait. My word for the year is Joy. ❤️
Sabrina T Cherry
Lauren, thank you ☺️! The prayers are from YouVersion – I start each day with devotion time and the scripture + prayer seems to bless others so I kept sharing. And rest – yes. Don’t we all get caught in the frenzy of doing versus remembering that yes, we have a role to play but then we can truly rest AND trust that God will handle the all else? I need daily reminders 🤦🏾♀️. JOY is one of my favorite words to meditate on. Thank you for sharing – I’ll be praying for you!
Regina
I definitely need the reminder to rest. Thank you for that! My word is “release” — specifically, things and people that are taking my focus on who He wants me to be.
Sabrina T Cherry
YES! I think we all do sometimes :-). And oweeeee, “release” is good! I look forward to praying with you as God moves in your life to RELEASE all that no longer serves you.
Anka Roberto
Confidence … Confidence in the Lord to do all the things in and through me and Confidence in myself to know I am enough… Thank you for all you are to do many!
Sabrina T Cherry
Anka, foremost – thank you for your friendship! You continue to be a beautiful blessing to my life. Thank you for supporting me by joining my mailing list and stopping by my blog. And finally, thank you for sharing your 2021 one word. This is PERFECT for you! I stand with you in prayer for increased Christ-confidence this year to do all He has called you to do!
Q
I am going with two words, as you shared “rest” and “wait.” My two words are “surrender” and “believe.” I choose to surrender my will for God’s because His way is the BEST way. I choose believe that ALL things are possible with and through Him. I believe that God has the best plans for my life and future even though sometimes I get in the way and think that I know what is best.
Sabrina T Cherry
Ohhhh, these are GOOD! And challenging – which I think is what we are hoping for, right? Words that help us draw us closer to Christ and who He desires us to be. Thank you for visiting my page and my blog ~ I sincerely appreciate it.
Denise Guinn
Hi,
I am still pondering and prating about my word this year. One thing I have learned this past year is that rest is not simply taking a nap. We must enter in God’s rest. As in stillness rather than busyness.
Sabrina T Cherry
Hi Denise, thank you for visiting my blog! I love that you’re remaining still to wait for your 2021 one word. And yes to rest being more than nap time. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and a few others write about the 7 types of rest we all need. Here is to clarity for your one word AND an year of intentional rest 😌.
Lisa Marcelina
Hey Sabrina! My word for the year is JOY, but I can relate to the word rest. Where I work I get 35 days paid vacation a year, and I totally take advantage!
Sabrina T Cherry
Lisa, this is such a great word (and another timely one)! I’m also happy to know you use your vacation time – so many within the US do not 😐. Finally, thank you for visiting, reading and commenting.
Megan
My word for 2021 is continue…!
Sabrina T Cherry
Megan, this is GOOD! I look forward to hearing/reading about how God uses this in your life. Thank you for visiting my blog and commenting!
Peggy Pulvermacher
I feel like I am always rushing both myself and God. Thank you for the reminder to rest and wait!
Sabrina T Cherry
Peggy, I can totally relate. You’re so welcome and thank YOU for visiting my blog 😌!
Wifey!
Yes! I didn’t know this “word of the year” was a thing! I like it! What a great word. REST! Yes! God knows I will be doing much more of this as well. Moment of stillness are essential at this point in my life. It’s fuel for our whole body.
Sabrina T Cherry
Yes, REST was and remains what I need so I’m committed to cultivating intentional moments for rest. And pause. And stillness 😂. Thank you so much for visiting and reading my blog. Happy New Year ~ love you!
Ayanna Robinson
“Wait” how powerful and fitting. Thank you for this post, Sabrina! Happy New Year!
Sabrina T Cherry
RIGHT Ayanna and you know me, so this is a bit challenging :-/. Thank YOU for taking time on the first day of this new year and new season to visit my blog. I SOOOO appreciate it. Happy New Year my friend :-).