You Are My Rest
Stop.
Take a deep breath. As you breathe in say, “You are my rest.” As you breathe out say, “You grant me peace.” Repeat as many times as you need.
Listen.
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. – Matthew 11:28-29
Reflect.
If I’ve heard one thing from folks lately, it’s this: “I’m so tired.”
I get it. So much has changed about work, life, society, relationships, and expectations in the past 18 months, all while trying to negotiate a pandemic that forces us to constantly weigh issues of health and safety for things that used to be so simple and clear. When figuring how when, how, or even if to go to the grocery store means considering the health risks for you and your loved ones, you get a better sense of just why everyone is so tired.
I read from one of my devotions the other day, and in it, the authors quoted a poem by 17th century poet George Herbert called “The Pulley”. The author, who was also a minister in the Church of England, considers God’s creation of humanity. In the poem, Herbert thinks of God as pouring out abundant blessings onto humans but, at the last moment, choosing to withhold the gift of rest. “’For if I should,’ said he, ‘bestow this jewel also on my creature, / He would adore my gifts instead of me, / and rest in Nature, not the God of Nature: / So both should losers be.’”
In other words: God has designed us to need rest but to find rest outside our own gifts, skills, abilities, and blessings. We cannot assume that the things we do will grant us rest. We find rest beyond ourselves, and the only way to find that is to slow down and listen.
Just as telling someone to calm down typically makes them more anxious, telling an exhausted person to rest usually just makes them more tired. So I won’t tell you that. I’ll remind you that you were created to find peace and hope in God. I’ll remind you that God welcomes you into patterns of Sabbath and renewal. I’ll remind you that we all need to practice those things weekly, daily, even hourly. In God, we find true rest.
Pray.
God, I confess that I go pushing through my days as if I can make my way on my own. I remember that I need you. Grant me your gifts in abundance, especially the ability to rest in you, so that I can be truly renewed by your love and empowered to share that gift with others. Amen.
Carry On.
What would it look like to return to God today? What reminders do you need to look to God for rest?