Living Restfully
For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said:
“You will be delivered by returning and resting;
your strength will lie in quiet confidence." ~ Isaiah 30:15
Finding rest in our hurried, troubled world seems impossible, even on a good day. To attain it by our own strength, we tend toward distraction, escape, or numbing activities – and yet, we cannot provide rest for ourselves.
Rest, soul rest is not something we can grasp; rather, a gift we can receive and a skill we can develop.
What Is Rest?
Perhaps when you think of rest, you imagine that someday you'll get it, if you work hard enough now – like a reward or retirement. Or maybe you conclude rest is something you get at the end of the day or week when you collapse on the couch, unable to take another step. You may even laugh at the idea that you could ever rest, thinking you don't "deserve" it, or that rest is synonymous with "lazy".
For followers of Jesus, living restfully is the way God meant for things to be. Humans are limited in time, resources, and energy, which makes it glaringly obvious that our existence and activity depends solely on Him. Jesus modeled rest for us, just as God modeled it by resting on the seventh day following creation.
In short, "rest" is stopping our struggling, reaching, trying to obtain, and instead focusing our attention on the One who has the power to make things happen. Psalm 46:10 calls to us: "Be still [stop striving!] and know that I am God."
Rest does not negate all activity. It is a posture of the soul that transcends the day-to-day worries and frustrations. It is a practiced trust in the sovereignty of God that results in peace, regardless of situations and circumstances. Rest is cooperation with God, a knowing of His strength weighed against our limitations. Rest is evidenced in calmness, a letting go of maddening control and perfectionism. It is sinking into the enveloping love and comfort of God, as you would surrender your body to a beanbag chair.
How Am I Supposed To Do That?
Fair question. All of us have commitments, responsibilities, and people depending on us. We have tight schedules packed with things to do, and we fear we will suffer for what doesn't get done. How do we rest?
Rest itself requires intention; first comes the belief that rest is needful, then the valuing of it that evolves into practice. You make time for rest in your day – time to be still, to listen, to pray. You can't rest on the run; you must allow space for it before you answer the howling "voices" (not necessarily children!) that seek to grab your attention. Rest is a discipline that is simple to do, but hard to learn. Consider how these Scriptures encourage rest:
My soul waits in silence for God alone;
From Him comes my salvation. ~ Psalm 62:1
From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. ~ Psalm 61:2
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? ~ Micah 6:8
"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.” ~ Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." ~ Jesus, Matthew 10:29-31
What Does Rest Look Like?
My best days begin with quiet time. When I sit still (this is a learned skill for me!), my body and brain relax enough to breathe and meditate. I can pray, focusing on the One who answers prayers, I can listen to the Holy Spirit's promptings, and I can read Scripture with clarity. Sometimes my space includes journaling, writing, or reaching out to someone God brings to mind.
I've found that after investing time with rest, God smooths the path for the remainder of my day. He streamlines phone calls (including "forever hold"), He aligns people (and traffic) to flow easily, He makes my interactions with people flourish. When I'm operating in dependence on God's power and not my own, then it's not up to me to produce results. Yet the results happen, often far more abundantly than I could have imagined.
Can You Embrace Rest?
How about you? What ideas or values need to change so that you can enjoy the gift of rest God has for you? Consider praying over these questions and asking God to help you grow in the area of rest:
Here's a book on Rest by one of my new favorite authors. If you're serious about your growth in this area, I can highly recommend it!
Click HERE to get free weekly articles in your inbox. Your email will never be shared.
©2023 Julianne Knapp. First published 3.28.23
“You will be delivered by returning and resting;
your strength will lie in quiet confidence." ~ Isaiah 30:15
Finding rest in our hurried, troubled world seems impossible, even on a good day. To attain it by our own strength, we tend toward distraction, escape, or numbing activities – and yet, we cannot provide rest for ourselves.
Rest, soul rest is not something we can grasp; rather, a gift we can receive and a skill we can develop.
What Is Rest?
Perhaps when you think of rest, you imagine that someday you'll get it, if you work hard enough now – like a reward or retirement. Or maybe you conclude rest is something you get at the end of the day or week when you collapse on the couch, unable to take another step. You may even laugh at the idea that you could ever rest, thinking you don't "deserve" it, or that rest is synonymous with "lazy".
For followers of Jesus, living restfully is the way God meant for things to be. Humans are limited in time, resources, and energy, which makes it glaringly obvious that our existence and activity depends solely on Him. Jesus modeled rest for us, just as God modeled it by resting on the seventh day following creation.
In short, "rest" is stopping our struggling, reaching, trying to obtain, and instead focusing our attention on the One who has the power to make things happen. Psalm 46:10 calls to us: "Be still [stop striving!] and know that I am God."
Rest does not negate all activity. It is a posture of the soul that transcends the day-to-day worries and frustrations. It is a practiced trust in the sovereignty of God that results in peace, regardless of situations and circumstances. Rest is cooperation with God, a knowing of His strength weighed against our limitations. Rest is evidenced in calmness, a letting go of maddening control and perfectionism. It is sinking into the enveloping love and comfort of God, as you would surrender your body to a beanbag chair.
How Am I Supposed To Do That?
Fair question. All of us have commitments, responsibilities, and people depending on us. We have tight schedules packed with things to do, and we fear we will suffer for what doesn't get done. How do we rest?
Rest itself requires intention; first comes the belief that rest is needful, then the valuing of it that evolves into practice. You make time for rest in your day – time to be still, to listen, to pray. You can't rest on the run; you must allow space for it before you answer the howling "voices" (not necessarily children!) that seek to grab your attention. Rest is a discipline that is simple to do, but hard to learn. Consider how these Scriptures encourage rest:
My soul waits in silence for God alone;
From Him comes my salvation. ~ Psalm 62:1
From the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. ~ Psalm 61:2
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? ~ Micah 6:8
"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.” ~ Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." ~ Jesus, Matthew 10:29-31
What Does Rest Look Like?
My best days begin with quiet time. When I sit still (this is a learned skill for me!), my body and brain relax enough to breathe and meditate. I can pray, focusing on the One who answers prayers, I can listen to the Holy Spirit's promptings, and I can read Scripture with clarity. Sometimes my space includes journaling, writing, or reaching out to someone God brings to mind.
I've found that after investing time with rest, God smooths the path for the remainder of my day. He streamlines phone calls (including "forever hold"), He aligns people (and traffic) to flow easily, He makes my interactions with people flourish. When I'm operating in dependence on God's power and not my own, then it's not up to me to produce results. Yet the results happen, often far more abundantly than I could have imagined.
Can You Embrace Rest?
How about you? What ideas or values need to change so that you can enjoy the gift of rest God has for you? Consider praying over these questions and asking God to help you grow in the area of rest:
- Am I trying too hard to make things happen? Why?
- Do I subscribe to the belief that "it's all up to me"?
- How could my life be different if I made space for rest?
- In what areas am I "striving"?
- What does my refusal to rest say about my view of God?
- What beliefs need to change in order for me to trust God and His promises to me?
Here's a book on Rest by one of my new favorite authors. If you're serious about your growth in this area, I can highly recommend it!
Click HERE to get free weekly articles in your inbox. Your email will never be shared.
©2023 Julianne Knapp. First published 3.28.23