{This post is part of my 31 Day blog series Work Hard + Rest Well: Learning Obedience in the Rhythms of Work and Rest.}
I want to talk about all the things I’ve learned about rest.
I want to talk about breathing deep and sitting still and putting down the electronics and snuggling close and smiling slow.
But there is one thing about rest that you must know, that I must not forget, for any of these restful strategies to be effective…
Our rest is in Jesus.
And He calls us…
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
We will not be able to truly enjoy our rest unless we have first rested in Jesus. We try. We think we can do it. We think that one day of resting apart from Jesus will work.
But it never does.
He is the giver of good gifts, and rest is a good gift.
He is the our Maker and He created us to both work and rest. But even more than that, He created us to be in fellowship with Him.
And we cannot fully live, if we do not seek life from the Source of Life.
So will we first rest in Him today? Tomorrow? Everyday?
In my most overwhelmed and tired moments, it is not natural instinct to open God’s Word or kneel to pray, but the times I have made that choice have resulted in a sweet restfulness of heart and mind and soul.
Our rest will never be the soul restoring and life nourishing time it was meant to be, if we do not first rest our souls in Jesus.
Be blessed
<3
