Genesis 1:26-2:4a
God gifts us a pattern for living. “Rest,” in this context, is a spiritual discipline that should be part of the regimen of our lives. You and I may differ on how we address this discipline, but we cannot deny rest falls under the category of proper care of our minds, bodies, and spirits. Rest is essential to living as God would have us live.
The fast-paced age in which we exist, events and involvement, as well as our penchant for production and outstanding performance, exhaust our physical, mental, and emotional strength. I am reminded of the words penned by Charles Tindley, which aptly describe our contexts: “We are often tossed and driven on the restless sea of time.” It doesn’t have to and shouldn’t be that way. God patterned a design for our well-being. Rest is necessary for our good and for the good of those we are called to lead, be in a relationship with, love, and care for. I often wonder why my mom spends hours in her garden, even at 77 years of age. To me, her gardening looks like work, but for her, it is a time of rest and being with God.
How might the way we interact with each other, approach our work, and worship Christ, if we set aside, earnestly, one day a week for intentional care and the rest of our souls? Engaging intentional worship practices and reflection from a stance of rest can build and enhance our trust in God. Resting both mind and body from never-ending deadlines and demands of “it must be done now” may give us space to invigorate and renew our capacity to embrace the work that is before us with joy. It may also reset our minds and spark our holy imaginations for ways of seeing God in the world in new ways.
Jesus beckons us, “come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, I will give you rest.” Those words are simple platitudes but a promise. God emphasizes the importance of rest to help us live into a healthful pattern of living.
Do you intentionally practice times of rest? Are we so important that we feel we cannot take time to rest? Have we become idols of ourselves? In what ways will you intentionally rest this coming week?
We will never know the peace that can be and the depth of good of rest until we learn to rest in God.
The Disaster Preparedness Insert: What to Do When Disaster Strikes
Storm season and the potential for natural disasters are soon upon us here in North Carolina. Do you know what to do if a storm impacts your local community?