Return to your rest
‘Let my soul be at rest again,
for the Lord has been good to me.’ — Psalm 116:7
‘Christ didn’t say, “I will give you rest from sorrow.” He said, “I will give you rest in sorrow” …He didn’t promise insurance from trouble, but assurance in the midst of trouble.’ — Billy Graham
Do you need a rest?
I don’t mean a bubble bath or a holiday, but true, deep, lasting rest.
You might be going through a tough or busy season. Maybe you’re exhausted from meeting the expectations of your boss, your friends, family, church life.
Maybe you even feel tired in your walk with Jesus. The devotional rhythms that once brought you life now feel dry, hard, wearisome.
During these times, we often focus on the next chance we have to rest. We look ahead to the evening, the weekend or our next bit of time off, hoping that it will help us get back on track with our chores, sleep, rest and socialising.
But when Monday comes around, we’re immediately on the back foot again.
When rest feels elusive and doesn’t satisfy the needs of our body and soul, maybe we’re looking for it in the wrong places.
A banquet in a battlefield
So much of our struggle with rest comes from our need for control and our attempts to hold everything together.
But this only ever holds us back from finding true rest.
We can’t hold everything together. We are not in control.
We need a bigger view of God, who is holding all things together, so that we can stop trying to control every part our lives control and start trusting Him.
In Psalm 23, David shows us that resting in God is like enjoying a feast He has prepared for us, even in the presence of our enemies.
Imagine being able to enjoy a banquet right in the middle of a battlefield. It sounds absurd—but David knew that he could enjoy God’s protection, provision and presence, even in the midst of the most intense circumstances.
Whatever situation you are in, you can rest in God now, even if things are unresolved, the pain remains or the to-do list feels overwhelming.
I wish I could tell you exactly what this looks like in practice, but I struggle with it too. Recently, I’ve been writing out my worries and re-writing them through a gospel lens.
For example: Father, my life feels chaotic and I can’t rest until everything is in order.
I can’t control my life, but I know that God can. I can ask Him for the strength to get things done, and I can rest even if they aren’t completed, because I know that nothing can change God’s love and care for me.
God is working all things together for your good
‘And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.’ — Romans 8:28
God’s perspective is eternal. He knows that our ultimate good is to become more like Jesus and enjoy Him for eternity. He is always working this out in our lives, and nothing will stop Him finishing this work He has started in us.
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are made right with God—fully forgiven and welcomed into God’s presence as His beloved children. Jesus’ resurrection has secured our ultimate future of perfect peace, joy and life with Him forever.
There is no quick fix. It takes time for our perspective to shift—but with the Spirit’s help, our hearts can find rest in our good God.
As we open up God’s Word and spend time with Him in prayer, we will rest as we see more of His goodness, comfort and power over all things.
By sharing our struggles with close Christian friends, they can remind us of the beautiful truths of the gospel and help us rest in God.
And we can enjoy the gifts God has given us to help us rest: sleep, hobbies, exercise, creation, friends and so much more!
So, if you’re feeling behind, overwhelmed or exhausted, come to Jesus—the only One who can truly and fully restore your soul.
Rest in Him, knowing that He is in control and working all things out for your good.
And fix your eyes on the day when you will enjoy perfect rest with Him forever.
With love,
Ruth