Rest (noun): sleep; a freedom from labor; peace of mind or spirit
I’ve always been a “good sleeper” – basically, I fall asleep quickly and usually wake well rested. As a child, I am told, I fell asleep in the back of the car any time a trip was longer than ten minutes. I enjoy my sleep and have likely spent too much of my time sleeping.
I find comfort knowing that Jesus, in his humanity, also needed sleep. His days of travel must have been so tiring! He even slept while traveling on a boat during a storm.
Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. Matthew 8:24
I experienced some of the best nights of sleep ever during a family trip to Montana. Our days were filled with amazing hikes in the mountains of Glacier National Park – we worked our bodies hard, breathed in the great fresh air (although it was a bit smoky from some nearby forest fires), and soaked in the healing rays of the sun.
After a few days of building up our hiking callouses, we embarked on an all-day hike, traversing the popular Highline Trail. We started with the low clouds hanging around us, but by mid-morning, what glorious sights filled our eyes!
By mid-day, however, intense rays of sun beat down on us, and we started our steep descent on a mountainside with very little shade. I wasn’t sure I would live through it – but thanks to prayer, encouragement from my family, my own mental toughness, and some extra water from strangers, I made it to the end (although I ended up losing two toenails from this experience!).
As I reclined my head onto my pillow that night, sleep overtook me swiftly. I don’t recall waking once, and doubt I even rolled over. Sleep after a full day of strenuous labor truly is a gift… and a necessity!
Sleep is what the body needs, but rest is what the soul needs.
As I think about sleep versus rest, I see that I could choose to spend less time sleeping (but still get a healthy amount), and more time resting – specifically, resting in His Presence. Resting in His Love.
One of my challenges when trying to rest is the distraction of TV, phones, and tablets. It’s easy to think I’m resting when watching TV or YouTube videos, but that’s not the type of rest Jesus is offering in Matthew 11:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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
TV, social media, YouTube, Video games – if not adequately managed – these particular activities can be time suckers, soul suckers, and health suckers. And I have too often been a sucker. What if I replaced fifteen minutes of screen time each day with resting in His Presence, how would that change my life? And then ripple into others’ lives?
I want to intentionally and honestly say “Yes” to taking His yoke (a wooden bar that joins together two beings for working together) on a daily basis. The goal isn’t to take the yoke, learn what to do, grow stronger, and then say, “I don’t need it anymore, I got this”. That’s not what Jesus is asking. He wants me to take his yoke every day, and in return, I will find rest by working together with him. Being yoked to him ensures I stay dependent on him, which is the one true way to find rest for my soul.
Some ways I’m trying to seek out REST on a daily basis:
- Upon wakening, spend my first few minutes in bed just meditating on everything I’m grateful for in my life
- While drinking my morning coffee, go to God in prayer and turnover to Him all of the anxieties, worries, and stress on my mind or in my heart
- Recite simple scriptures before I go to sleep at night and ask God to provide both quality sleep and peaceful rest
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. Psalm 3:5
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8
- Recognize moments in my day where I am feeling particularly weary, burdened, overwhelmed, or defeated – then turn to music as a form of worship and praise.
The song that I turn to regularly is “Lord, I Need You” by Matt Maher. The song begins with these words:
Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here, I find my rest.
Without you I fall apart
You’re the one who guides my heart.
Lord I need you, OH I need you, every hour, I need you.
I like to listen to the acoustic performance of this song (here). If I have time, I click the replay button a few times. I close my eyes and hum along (or sing along if no one else is around!).
My soul cries out, and He answers with his Rest.