by Yury Méndez

Work has always been valuable to me. As I child I remember watching my mom working hard to raise her four children and also support my grandmother. I took my role as the oldest sister very seriously and worked to bring home money to help relieve my mom’s economic burden, as well as helping take care of my younger siblings.

Diligence, responsibility, and service were the values that developed in my personality; but along with these, I was also filled with self-sufficiency, pride, perfectionism, independence, and a refusal to rest. There was always something more to do to stay busy.

Six years ago my husband and I had the opportunity to participate in a SonScape retreat. The teaching I received there brought light to the lifestyle I was living both in our family and in ministry. God confronted me and invited me to take seriously His commandment to rest.

I had completely forgotten that God said, “REMEMBER the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” I was like Martha, with lots of noise in my heart, despising the best part that Mary chose, sitting at Jesus’ feet, gazing at Him, enjoying His presence.

Recognizing those attitudes and behaviors that had taken root in the deepest part of my heart wasn’t easy at first. I was aware that change was necessary and that I needed to use God’s truth to remove the false beliefs I had accepted. Some of those were “a leader should always be working to be efficient” and “God calls busy people.” I had allowed so many lies in!

Starting to practice times of rest and silence has reconnected me with God, myself, and my loved ones. Rest renews my way of seeing God and knowing His character. Rest helps you stay alert to discern the schemes of darkness while it simultaneously beautifies you, makes you flourish, and allows you to give off a new fragrance.

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Yury (a Colombian) and her husband Felix (from Cuba) have been serving as retreat leaders with SonScape in Colombia since 2015. Their life passion is restoring and mentoring men and women to find their purpose in God and developing leaders who will model Jesus’ culture in their families and in spheres of society. They currently lead a missionary base with YWAM in Pereira, Colombia.