Rest

We often want a break from our busy lives, but what we really need is rest in our hearts.

I have never been a good napper.

I always felt guilty stopping to rest in the middle of the day. My mantra was do your work first, then you can rest or play. Trouble is, these days we live in a hurried, stressed and unrested world. We work too much, we worry too much and we even play too much. Surveys have shown that 77% of adults questioned say that they experience high levels of stress and have had regular physical and psychological symptoms caused by stress. The average American worker doesn’t even use all of their vacation days. And when they do, the vacations rarely include real rest.

Rest is a universal need. Humans need rest. Animals need rest. Plants need rest. Even our God worked hard and then rested. So what is rest really? A dictionary definition is – a period of inactivity; repose; solitude or tranquility; cessation or absence of motion; mental or spiritual calm (stillness; freedom from disturbance). According to this definition, when is the last time you really rested??

I am currently recuperating from two surgical procedures three days apart. The second one was performed to correct something that happened during the first. So I am resting. Science or biology can supply good reasons why our bodies and our brains need periods of rest. Really though, the Bible is the best resource to find information about rest. The truest rest is found only in God’s presence.

In the hospital I was totally dependent on the medical staff to take care of me, see to my needs and make sure I was safe. I realized that I was in God’s hands and had to trust Him with my body and my life. I admit it was challenging to feel like I was resting in my faith in Him. The author, Bob Sorge, wrote in one of his books – “The rest of God can be found only in ceasing from all our own works and learning to just ‘be’ in the presence of the Lord.”

I had to just be. There was nothing I could do to make any changes to my situation. This is the place where we can find rejuvenation (to restore to a former state; make fresh) or mental rest, revitalization (to give new life to) or spiritual rest, invigoration (give strength or force to; energize) or physical rest and renewal (to make new) or emotional rest. Sounds like it should be easy but the scriptures show us that our Lord knew this would be difficult for us. Hebrews 4:11 actually tells us we must labor or strive to enter that rest. Rest is a forgotten activity. Yes, activity. We need to be intentional, work at it, make it happen. There is so much to do! It feels like a waste of time to just rest.

Typically our unrest comes from what is going on in our hearts. We must admit that we cannot control our circumstances (Proverbs 19:31); that we are dependent on a sovereign God who will keep His promises and implement His plan in our lives (Psalms 127:2) and that we agree that it is only He who can sustain us and fill us with His Holy Spirit who empowers us to be effective and fruitful (Psalms 94:19). We must surrender.

One beautiful summer sunny day some years ago when I was back in Vermont, a friend and I took a rowboat and drove way out into the country. We launched our little boat into a small pondin the middle of some woods. We rowed out into the middle of the pond, laid back in the boat and just drifted. The only noise was the twittering of birds, the rustle of squirrels in the leaves and a gentle breeze in the treetops. No traffic, no phone calls, no deadlines, no worries, no problems – just staring up into the sunlight shining through the trees and feeling the soothing movement of the little boat. That was peace! That was rest! I don’t even remember where that place is now, but I will never forget that feeling. What I felt then was on the outside. Now that same feeling remains on the inside, deep within my soul. It is the peace and rest that only our God can give.

Life’s challenges are steady like a spring rain. They will be there whether we rest or not. We need strength and energy to keep on keeping on. Taking a break and resting will give us new hope and courage to get up and going again. Go someplace quiet. Turn off your phone. Let your body relax. Release the tension. Plan to stay awhile. Rest.

Matthew 11:28 is a wonderful invitation. It says, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened (Is that you today?) and I will give you rest.” He is waiting for you.

See you next time. I’m going to take a nap.