Find Your Rest

Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 CSB)

Are you like me? Does the idea of rest make you sigh with longing?

Rest from day-to-day responsibilities and burdens is an absolute necessity, especially if we find ourselves living at a frenetic pace. Our bodies just can’t take the constant stress. We weren’t created to go, go, go 24/7. I think women, especially, are wired to go and go, give and give, and do and do until they give out, so we need actual rest and refueling. Crashing into bed at night completely exhausted isn’t true rest.

Sabbath Rest

The Lord established Sabbath for a reason. After he created the world in six days, he rested on the seventh day. Because he’s God, he didn’t need the rest, but he knew we needed an example.

In Mark 2:27 (CSB) Jesus tells us, “‘The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.’” That means the Lord created the Sabbath with his children in mind. Ultimately, we all need a Sabbath—a time of rest and worship.

Sabbath equals rest, but it’s meant to be more than not working. It’s meant to be a time to fill up and experience the joy of the Lord. We need to set apart a special Sabbath time to put aside the world and connect with our Creator through praise and worship.

Every Day Is Not a Day at the Beach

I love the beach; it’s my absolute favorite place to be. I love the sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the feel of the sun on my face, my toes in the sand. To me, that’s ultimate relaxation. Time seems to move slower at the beach, and sitting by the ocean offers time to reflect, think, or do nothing. It offers time to just be. Time to rest.

Thanks to my parents, almost every summer we spend a week at the beach with our extended family. All fifteen of us—eight adults and seven children—pile into a house near the shore and spend a week laughing, talking, and being silly. Worries seem to melt away. It’s one of my favorite times of the year.

Unfortunately, not every day can be a day at the beach, and we can’t give when we’re empty. If we focus on getting things done and checking off items on our lists at the expense of daily checking in with God and our friends and family, we’ll be empty.

We need to make time in our regular days to experience rest and joy, just like we experience on an extended vacation. God made us to crave time with him. He has commanded us to rest and to spend time with others. The Lord doesn’t make up rules just so he has a bunch of mindless followers; he’s instituted these commandments for our own good. God loves us and wants what’s best for us. He has given us perfect guidelines to navigate this crazy, sinful world.

Eternal Perspective in a Temporal World

While we do need to keep our focus on the eternal perspective in life, we must also pay attention to our temporal world. We have to take care of ourselves the way God intended. This means cultivating a relationship with him, and that includes observing Sabbath, not just one day a week, but daily as we spend time with him.

God has commanded us to rest, and we should enjoy what God commands us to do. His commandments aren’t meant to be drudgery or punishment; they’re meant to be good for us and to bring us joy.

Let go of your weariness and burdens. The Lord is there to take them from you, fill you up, and encourage and lead you. Let him.

Dear Lord, thank you for providing us with everything we need. Help us learn how to prioritize responsibilities and rest. Guide us as we plan our days, and may everything we do bring glory to you. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation. (Genesis 2:2–3 CSB)

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (Exodus 20:8 CSB)

“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14 CSB)

I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1–2 CSB)

Reach for More

Are you running yourself ragged? How can you make rest a priority? Set aside specific times during the week to pray and rest. Think of ways you can fill up and rejuvenate. Share your solutions and struggles with us in The Glorious Table Community. We would love to help you find your rest. If you like, post your experience with finding rest on social media with #tgtreachformore.

Dana Herndon is a writer, blogger, and a middle school teacher. She and her husband live in Georgia with their three children. In addition to teaching and writing, Dana loves to read, paddle board, and sometimes run. She blogs about faith, family, and enjoying the everyday life at danaherndon.com.

Photograph © Farsai C., used with permission