"Restful Peace"

"On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God." Psalms 62:7

Sometimes when I go to my easel with an empty canvas, I already have an idea of what I am going to paint. Maybe, I have been commissioned to paint a particular picture, or I saw a photo which gave me an idea of what the Lord would want me to paint...just to paint. With this particular painting, it came from a day of frustration. I needed to have a restful place where I could feel some peace. I felt that I needed to paint that!
As a teacher, you can have a day where the students grasp what you are teaching them and are focused on the work given them, but then there are those days where it is just the opposite. You wonder if this was truly the calling the Lord had for you. Well, on this particular day, it was the latter so when I came home I could have gone to my bedroom, lay on the bed and cry, but instead I had a strong desire to get into my paint clothes, go into my studio AND PAINT!!! As I got down on my knees to pray, in front of my easel, I knew immediately what He wanted me to paint. I needed a place of solace to just rest in Him. Where would I go to find that? 
My most favorite place in the whole, wide world to find peace is at the ocean. No, I'm not referring to the crowded beach where everyone is sunbathing, but that special spot where I can sit, by myself, with the breeze gently touching my face and watching the power of the waves by its Creator. As the breeze touches my face, I like to think as if it is my Heavenly Father, gently touching my face to wipe away all the stress, worries, and cares of my life.
A couple of friends of mine love to go to the beach in Maine at Nubble Point. I love that place. It seems peaceful there. I have never been but have enjoyed it through their photos. I knew the painting I needed to do, was my peaceful place. I also knew that I needed to paint this for one of my teacher friends as she was having the same rough day as me. Not only is painting my stress reliever but so is prayer. As I painted that special spot that I would want to be at, I prayed for this teacher, asking the Lord to encourage her.
As I pictured myself sitting on that rock, I also envisioned my Savior sitting beside me, listening to me as I poured my soul out to Him. I saw Him listening to every word I had to say and when I had finished, He would gently put His arms around me, wipe my tears away and then speak words of wisdom as only He could do.  What a comfort to know that He cares about every aspect of my life. He has walked the same road as I have and He knows the pain that I feel at times.  He is MY SALVATION and on Him I can find that "Restful Peace".
What about you? When you have a stressful day, week, month or even year, who or where do you go to find your rest? I have found Christ to be my solace, my refuge and He can be yours too. Rest in Him!