Sometimes Faith Looks Like Rest

Learning to loosen my grip, listen to my body, and trust God with what comes next.

Last week, I told you about learning to guard my heart and make room for the things that make me feel alive.

Well, apparently God decided we weren't finished with that lesson. 😂

Because this week, I've been wrestling with something that sounds so simple in Scripture but feels a whole lot harder in real life.

Be still. Trust God. Be anxious for nothing.

Excuse me, but HOW?!

How do you stay calm when you've spent years watching storm clouds roll toward you, never quite knowing when the next crisis is going to arrive?

How do you stop anticipating problems when you've gotten so accustomed to solving them?

And how do you surrender control when you're a self-employed artist whose brain has approximately 47 tabs open at any given moment?!

These are the things I've been bringing to the Lord lately.

And I'm beginning to think that learning to rest might be one of the most important things I create space for this season.

When Your Body Says Enough

After our daughter's unexpected appendicitis and surgery the previous weekend, I started Monday feeling like a shell of a human.

We'd spent Saturday evening at the hospital, barely slept, made it through Sunday's surgery and recovery, and finally got home late Sunday night.

By Monday, I was running on fumes.

But Tuesday rolled around, and my entrepreneurial brain was ready to go!

I've been spending so much time sitting in front of my computer, trying to organize my artwork, develop merchandise, make sense of my website, and build a business that doesn't require me to physically work every single dollar I earn.

I want to create beautiful things, share God's love, and build multiple income streams through my paintings and art merchandise.

The vision is there!

It's the 10,000 little details between here and there that make my head spin. 😂

Meanwhile, the painter in me is standing in the corner waving her arms, wondering when we're actually going to MAKE SOMETHING.

And underneath all of it, there's this persistent feeling that I should be doing more.

More creating. More working. More earning. More figuring things out.

But what if the answer isn't always more?

A Friday Night Decision

I was scheduled to face paint at the Susquenita football game Friday night.

Normally, I love those nights. The energy, the excited kids, the glitter, the ridiculous requests. All of it!

But after the week I'd had, I wasn't feeling particularly enthusiastic about temperatures swinging from the 40s into the 80s and then heading back out for another evening of work.

My body was telling me something.

Then Jamie from the cheer boosters messaged to let me know that McGuire Ford would be there for a food drive and would need the space where I usually set up.

And instead of trying to figure out how to squeeze myself in somewhere else, I decided to take the opportunity to stay home.

I chose rest.

Which is not always easy for a self-employed girl who knows that choosing not to work also means choosing not to earn that night's income.

But I had a huge day ahead of me Saturday, and I wanted to show up with something left in the tank.

The Beautiful Chaos of Highland Orchards

Saturday morning, I headed to Highland Orchards, a place that's been part of my colorful adventures for more than a decade.

My cousin Lydia came to help with payments and Sparkle sales, and she brought along her daughter's friend Ahna.

And wouldn't you know it, Ahna was absolutely perfect for the occasion!

She jumped into installing hair tinsel, interacting with the kids, and helping create all those little moments of magic I love so much.

She even got her own face painting and hair tinsel!

There is something so delightful about watching someone discover how much joy this work can bring.

The orchard was bustling, the children were excited, the Sparkles were sparkling, and we had an absolutely wonderful day.

It ended up being the most money I've ever made in a single day at Highland Orchards! 🎉

Between face painting, henna, hair tinsel, and Sparkle sales, all the different parts of my business came together beautifully.

Now, I'm not suggesting that taking Friday off somehow guaranteed Saturday's success.

But I couldn't help noticing the contrast.

Friday, I gave myself permission to stop.

Saturday, I had the energy to show up fully.

And sometimes I think that's exactly what we forget when we're trying so hard to keep everything moving.

Learning to Actually Trust

Sunday brought rain, and I was perfectly content to sit on my butt, rest, listen to Scripture, and spend some quiet time with the Lord.

Because there's something I've been trying to understand about faith.

I can tell God I trust Him all day long.

I can pray for guidance, surrender my worries, and ask Him to lead me.

But then five minutes later, there I am trying to figure out every possible outcome again.

Sound familiar?

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10

I keep returning to those words.

Not because I suddenly know how to be still, but because I'm learning that trusting God is something I have to practice.

And I don't think that means pretending life isn't difficult or that uncertainty doesn't exist.

It means remembering that I don't have to carry every possibility, solve every problem, or know exactly how the entire story unfolds.

Some days, faith might look like taking the next step.

Other days, maybe it looks like staying home on a Friday night.

Meanwhile, the Artist Wants to Paint

Of course, there's still this little voice inside of me calling me back to my colors.

I've been especially drawn toward my jellyfish paintings lately.

There's something about imagining myself floating beyond the crashing waves, held by the ocean, that feels like exactly what my soul needs.

We didn't make it to the beach this year. Or last year, for that matter.

And I miss it.

Painting has always been one of the ways I reconnect with that sense of peace, wonder, and being held by something greater than myself.

Unfortunately, my current studio is a storage unit in Pennsylvania, and the seasons aren't particularly interested in accommodating my creative desires. 😂

So I've started dreaming up another solution.

I bought a tiny 36-inch baby swimming pool.

Yes. A SWIMMING POOL.

My latest idea is to turn it into a contained little creation station in my bedroom, where I can experiment with textured paintings without transforming the entire apartment into an art disaster.

The cat, naturally, complicates this plan.

But we'll figure it out!

Maybe I don't need the perfect studio or a completely mapped-out artistic direction.

Maybe I need an hour, a protected workspace, and permission to play.

Passing the Joy Along

And speaking of the unexpected directions creativity can take us, this Wednesday I'm heading to Bermudian Springs to work with their National Honor Society students!

A teacher saw me face painting at an event earlier this year and invited me to help prepare the students for their own community face-painting activities.

I've already been sharing some of these skills with the younger helpers who've joined me at events like Spooky Nook.

But what I'm especially excited about is teaching the stuff that goes on BEHIND the face painting.

How do you manage a line of excited children?

How do you make a nervous little one feel comfortable?

How do you handle parents, expectations, and all the beautiful chaos that comes with working with the public?

Those are real-world skills I've learned through years of running a creative business.

We'll also be capturing some photos and video, which may open doors for future teaching opportunities.

But right now, I'm just excited to share what I know.

One Step at a Time

I still have big dreams.

I want to make more art, create meaningful products, grow my business, and use the gifts God has given me to bring a little more beauty and kindness into the world.

But I'm learning that I don't need to force every dream into existence all at once.

Sometimes I need to create.

Sometimes I need to work.

Sometimes I need to teach.

And sometimes I need to sit still long enough to remember who's really in control.

Maybe there's something in your life right now that doesn't need more effort. Maybe it needs a little breathing room.

What might happen if you gave yourself permission to rest without feeling like you're falling behind?

I'm still figuring that one out myself.

But I'm listening.

And somewhere in the near future, I fully intend to be sitting beside a tiny swimming pool in my bedroom, making a glorious mess with turquoise paint. 😂🎨

A little joy for today. A little hope for tomorrow.

With a grateful heart,
Brookie ✨
Art for Playful Souls