During the month of April, I’m writing 30 Words for 30 Days: Thoughts from Six Feet Away, one topic per day. Find out why here.
“REST”
Our bodies need rest.
That’s not a popular sentiment in today’s culture where “busyness” is put up on an altar and worshiped.
I mean, if there is any hint of us not “doing” something, then that means we’re lazy, have a lot of time on our hands, are unmotivated or worse.
If you don’t believe me, then why is it so hard for us to not feel guilty about taking a nap, just sitting and listening to music, or taking time to just think.
And yet I’ve found that one gift out of this whole mess is that we have more time than ever to just… rest. To just be.
For many, it may be a difficult reality.
There is a comfort and familiarity in a busy schedule, in always moving, in having limited time to do trivial things.
But lurking in the shadows is the dark side of that. Behind the scenes, our bodies are stressed, our minds are cluttered, our spirits are uneasy.
Come to Me
When I’m feeling burdened or anxious or exhausted, there is passage in the Bible, an image that I love to come back to.
It is a promise from Jesus Himself. An offer to all of us who realize that we just can’t do it all, that we are worn out and weary.
It comes from the book of Matthew, chapter 11, verse 28:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
It’s pretty simple really. No “10 Steps To A More Restful You” or hoops to go through.
No course or habit or goals.
Just come. That’s it.
Come to Him and lay those burdens, that schedule, those fears and anxiety at his feet.
Take off that backpack and put it by the door.
And rest.
The Good Shepherd
I picture this passage tied in with one of my other favorites, the well known 23rd Psalm.
The first three verses read:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”
There is a peace and a comfort that I find there.
The thought that our Shepherd knows us well.
He knows we need rest and he makes us lie down in green pastures.
He knows we are thirsty and parched and he leads us to quiet waters where we are refreshed.
He cares for us.
And He invites us to come and rest.
Have you done that?
I hope you’ll take some time to ask God to give you that rest that He promises us.
Especially now.
In the weeks and months to come, activities and stores and gatherings will begin to open back up and schedules will want to get filled again.
Start now to develop a practice of rest.
Our souls depend on it.
