Hi friends,
I'm Vanessa Michelle,
And I am a writer and contemplative teacher,
And I mostly create things around prayer,
Rest,
And slowing down with God.
And today I want to take a moment to share one of my letters from my breath and prayer journal,
Just to encourage you to slow down and make space.
The scripture of focus today is Matthew 11,
28.
Come to me,
All you who are weary and burdened,
And I will give you rest.
Slowing down sounds simple,
But for many of us,
It's one of the hardest things to do.
We live fast.
We juggle full schedules,
Multiple roles,
And constant to-do lists.
And if you're anything like me,
Staying busy can feel like a source of purpose or even comfort.
But over time,
That busyness can also lead to anxiety,
Burnout,
And disconnection from the things that matter most.
When I stepped away from my full-time job to care for my children and pursue creative work,
I thought slowing down would come easily.
But instead I struggled.
I had been on autopilot for so long that stillness felt uncomfortable.
The open space revealed things I hadn't had time to process.
And yet,
In that quiet,
I could hear God more clearly.
Sometimes he whispers.
Sometimes he nudges.
And sometimes when we won't slow down on our own,
He'll do it for us.
Whether through illness,
Exhaustion,
Or an unexpected life shift,
He gently reminds us,
You weren't created to carry everything.
Make space for me.
And when I finally did,
Everything began to shift.
I made space for prayer,
For journaling,
And for rest.
I found myself reconnecting to what really matters,
Which is my faith,
My family,
And my peace.
Slowing down doesn't mean giving up your responsibilities.
Instead,
It simply means being present in them.
It might look like savoring a quiet meal without your phone.
Taking a walk to feel the air on your skin,
Folding laundry with a grateful heart,
Simply letting God in during the ordinary.
These small moments of pause are invitations to return to yourself.
And to Him.
And friend,
I want you to take a moment to reflect on what areas feel full in your life.
What spaces do you need to slow down?
I hope that this encourages you.
My story encourages you to.
Make space for God,
Make space for slowing down and know that filling your schedule and And piling on more doesn't mean more purpose.
Sometimes it takes away from what really matters,
And that's getting still in God's presence.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
