The wind howls.
Rain falls steadily.
In the distance,
Thunder rumbles.
Following flashes of lightning,
The storm is going outside and it's going hard.
But here,
Inside,
With yourself,
You are safe.
Tonight we'll practice what it means to rest during a storm.
This meditation was inspired by the biblical story of Jesus who had so much faith in God,
Had so much faith that everything was going to work out,
That he was sound asleep during a very ferocious and fierce storm,
Even while everyone else was worried and anxious and stressed.
So tonight,
We're going to try to take a note from Jesus' book and rest during our storms.
And I want you to think about a storm that's happening in your life.
Maybe it's a job,
A health scare,
A challenge that feels too big for you right now.
It can be something as simple as a test or something as big as a test.
Whatever your storm is,
I want you to allow that to take meaning for the storm that's happening outside.
Whatever storm feels present,
Assign it meaning as you hear the thunder and rain around you.
Let the sounds of the storm represent these worries,
Things that feel too overwhelming to let go of.
And let's start our meditation,
Our rest,
By taking some deep breaths to settle into our bodies.
Let's take a deep breath in,
Feeling your belly with air.
Now release it all at once.
Breathe in deeply,
Letting your belly rise.
And hold it for 1,
2,
3,
4,
5.
Now exhale for 1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6.
At this point,
I want you to get comfortable.
Whatever position you like to sleep in,
Let's do it.
If it's on your side,
If it's on your side,
Get your pillows.
If it's on your back,
Get your pillows.
However you need to sleep to be comfortable in your body.
Let's move in that position now.
Now I want you to picture yourself in the most ideal,
Comforting version of your room that your imagination can create.
I want you to think about what scents are in the air.
Maybe it's lavender,
Frankincense,
Myrrh,
Or your favorite perfume,
Fresh linen.
Think about the texture and the weight of the comfort that's sitting on you.
Picture the color of the sheets.
Picture as many details about this space where you're comfortable,
Where you're safe to rest.
As the imagery of the room gets clearer in your mind,
I want you to look around and notice the decorations on the wall.
Maybe it's the soft glow of a lamp,
Your favorite plant in the corner,
Artwork,
A poster of your favorite artist.
I want this space to reflect everything that makes you feel safe,
That makes you feel like you.
Because this space is yours and it belongs to you.
If this room you're in now doesn't reflect this space that you're creating in your mind,
That's totally okay.
In your mind,
You can keep things simple or go as wild and free as your imagination can get.
But once you have this space in mind,
I want you to picture yourself in that bed and picture your body sinking into the mattress.
Every crack and crevice supported just in the right way.
The storm continues outside,
But you are finding a soft space to land.
Watch yourself settle into the bed.
You start to pull the covers over you,
Letting the blanket cradle you,
Letting it hug you.
Even as the storm moves outside,
You remain calm within.
You are safe,
You are healed,
And you are exactly where you need to be.
I want you to release any tension that you're holding in your forehead.
Unclench your jaw if it's clenched.
Relax your cheeks.
Squeeze your eyes and then let them relax as well.
Let them get heavy.
Let your eyelids start to feel so heavy that you couldn't lift them with the strength of a hundred power lifters.
Let your neck soften,
Releasing any stiffness.
Let your shoulders drop,
Falling away from your ears.
Feel the tension melt away from your arms,
Allowing them to get heavy and relaxed.
Soften your hands.
Let your fingers rest however they do,
Whether that's folded or flat.
Whatever feels good.
Let's bring some awareness to your chest.
Notice how it moves up and down in each breath.
Push one hand here.
Feel your heartbeat.
Remind yourself that you are love.
Now move this hand down to your belly and breathe deep in this space.
This space carries a lot of weight.
We feel excitement here,
Anxiety here,
Worry,
Happiness,
Love.
So many emotions cycle through our gut.
Let's move down to your hips.
Wiggle your hips from side to side just a little bit and then allow them to relax.
Feel your thighs and calves.
And I want you to squeeze these areas just a little bit and now allow them to release.
Notice your feet relaxing,
Your toes naturally curling and resting in a position that feels best.
Now I want you to remember all of these spots,
All of these sensations and just feel all of the relaxation at once.
And allow your body to be heavy,
To be relaxed and completely at ease.
Imagine every muscle in your body softening and taking a break to rest.
You start to feel sleepier.
And you start to hear these affirmations.
I release the weight of the day.
I do not have to carry it all.
I am supported even when I don't see the way forward.
I open my hands to receive God's grace.
I am enough just as I am.
I am supported even when I don't see the way forward.
I open my hand to receive God's grace.
I am enough just as I am.
With each breath,
I welcome ease into my body.
With each breath,
I welcome ease into my body.
I am held even in moments of uncertainty.
There is peace within me even when life feels unsettled.
There is peace within me when all I see is chaos.
There is peace within me when I am the only one there to witness my pain.
There is peace within me when I am the only one there to witness my pain.
I release the burdens I've been carrying in my body.
I release the burdens I've been carrying in my body.
Even as the storm moves outside,
I remain anchored within myself.
Even as the storm moves outside,
I remain anchored within myself.
I trust myself to rest even when I think I should be up worrying.
I trust myself to rest even when I feel I should be up worrying.
I am exactly where I need to be right now.
I am exactly where I need to be right now.
Now that your body is resting,
Let's move into a moment of prayer.
There's nothing more you need to do.
Just rest and listen as I pray and fall asleep.
God,
Spirit of Peace,
Guide me through the storms of life with a steady heart.
When the way forward feels unclear,
Remind me that I can rest without knowing every answer.
Help me release what I cannot control and trust that I am held by something greater than myself.
May my breath be my anchor,
My rest be my strength,
And my faith carry me through all that feels uncertain.
Sometimes going to sleep can be the most faithful thing that you can do.
When you want to stay up and figure out solutions and worry and help and please and do this and do that,
God,
I pray that you invite peace that passes all understanding into my body in this moment.
I pray that I'm able to cast every care onto you and sleep like a baby tonight.
A healthy baby,
A happy baby,
A fed baby.
Lord,
May I rest and wake up rejuvenated tomorrow.
Even if that storm is still going,
May I wake up reinvigorated because I went to sleep in the midst of it.
I allowed myself to be renewed in the midst of it.
I allowed your spirit to pour into me in the midst of it.
I asked for the faith of Jesus in the boat and you gave it to me,
Lord.
I trust you to protect me in the night.
I trust you to move things on my behalf in the night.
I trust that the good that has been planted on my behalf through my prayers,
Through my grandmother's prayers,
Through my mother's prayers,
Through all the prayers of good that have ever come from any pure heart to your ears on my behalf.
I thank you that all of that good is beginning to manifest.
That this rain will be used to water those seeds.
That this rain will be used to wash away anything that doesn't serve me.
That this rain will be used as ASMR to calm me down even though it was sent to shake me.
I thank you for rest.
I thank you for peace.
I thank you for clarity.
I thank you for stillness.
I thank you for all of these things.
In the name of Jesus.
In the name of whoever you pray to.
Amen.
I hope by now you are fast asleep and resting.
But if you're not,
Just keep taking deep breaths.
And matter of fact,
Let's take one final deep breath together.
Breathing in.
Hold that breath.
And let it go.
That storm can't last forever.
You tell that storm to stop.
You tell that storm to cease.
And you just let yourself rest.
Good night.
I love you.
