Living Rested

Living rested. The idea is almost laughable. Our world is characterized by many things but “restful” isn’t one of them. I would consider myself a lover of relaxing. I love to work, don’t get me wrong. But I have no trouble kicking my feet back to binge Parks and Recreation or laying on a Carolina beach. Even still, I often find myself unable to rest. 

A couple of months ago I began asking myself, “What is rest? How can I even do it?”  The irony. I was searching for a way to “accomplish” rest. Have you ever done this? Maybe you thought you would complete XYZ and then rest. Or perhaps you were “resting” but the hamster wheel of your mind continued on full-speed. 

Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

If you aren’t familiar with the context—at the time Jesus was speaking, the Jews were under the proverbial thumb of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were known for creating new “laws.” As if keeping the entire law of Moses wasn’t impossible on its own, they would add to it rules and requirements that no one could ever keep. This weight was inconceivable. So when Jesus, God-in-flesh, said “come to me” and used words like rest, gentle, easy, light—you can imagine the blown minds in the crowd.

Today, thankfully, we live in the grace of Christ—we know that keeping the law is completely out of our grasp. But God—he sent his Son to fulfill the law, to do what we never could. So what do these truths about Christ in this verse mean for us? How can we live differently? How can we live in this rest?

For me I first have to consider what burdens I’m yoked to—the ones I’ve heaped on my own shoulders, those the world has packed on, or even ones that have followed me from childhood. What lies am I believing? What misbeliefs do I have about who God is and what God does? Where am I trying to do life on my own?

We don’t use yokes on our farm, but I’ve learned that often a stronger, more experienced animal is paired with one who is still learning. Isn’t that Jesus for us? As God-become-man, he experienced all we have. Yet he did it perfectly. And he is offering to shoulder what is weighing us down and causing us anxiety. Jesus is our rest. Jesus is our peace. He comes alongside us to take what keeps us from living in freedom. 

So let’s make this relatable. You’re busy, and then it seems that just when your dumpster fire can’t get any hotter, someone adds gasoline to it. Have you been there? 

“And here is where our burdened souls are tested. Will we believe in him; will we trust him? We want to rest our souls on the knowledge of how and when our burdensome problems will be addressed. But Jesus does not provide those details. He simply promises us that they will be addressed.

Jesus does not want our souls resting on the how and when, as if we are wise enough to understand and determine them. Rather he wants our souls resting on the surety that he will keep his promise to us in the best way at the best time. ‘Come to me,’ he says, ‘cast your anxieties on me for I care for you’ (see 1 Peter 5:7). ‘Trust in me with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding’ (see Proverbs 3:5), he says, ‘and you will find rest for your souls.’” (Jon Bloom, Desiring God)

Rest doesn’t have to happen occasionally. We can live rested because of who Jesus is and what Jesus does.

Jesus died and rose again so that we don’t have to “do” in fear and worry. Because of his life, death, and resurrection, we can live in a state of hope, joy, and peace. If we truly believe the omnipresence, omnipotence, omnificence of God, and that our purpose on this earth lies in him, all the striving and chaos of our minds can cease. But we must first come and receive. This begs a level of discipline. 

It’s turning again and again back to the cross on the nights you lie awake longing for rest. It’s choosing to “come” over and over. It’s transferring the weight of your burdens to Jesus who gives you the easy yoke of believing, following, and abiding—because that weight, friend, isn’t ours. It never was. So give it up. God’s arms are outstretched waiting for you, desiring to give you this rest for your weary soul. He desires for you to live rested—no striving, no hustling, no trying to figure it all out and keep all the plates spinning on your own. God rules over all the worries and frets of our day.

Does this mean we don’t work? Of course not. Work hard. Serve well. But do it all knowing that the God of the universe, who loved you enough to send his son into the mess, has it all under control for your good and his glory. And he does so deeply love you. He is for you. You can confidently surrender and trust.

Applications for the Spinning Mind

Let me first start by saying, I think physical rest is incredibly important. In our next blog, Lacey Stevenson will be discussing rhythms of rest. But I know that sometimes lives cannot pause even when we feel as though we won’t make it to the next hour. What then?

Head 

Oftentimes when I’ve found myself the most overwhelmed and “reeling” occurs when I’ve believed the lie that everything needed to happen right this minute and done by yours truly. During my early motherhood stage I also ran a business on no sleep. Those were the days I had to remember: there are good things and there are “God things.” And when we choose the God things, God will sustain the good things. Taking care of my clients was not a bad thing but in the end, they were not my first priority. Being a calm, peace-filled mom was the God thing, and God unfailingly sustained the “good things.” My challenge here? Go read Psalm 46. The Lord is beside you, friend. Stop what you’re doing, “be still” in his presence. Jesus experienced anguish and trial. He gets it. His promise, though, isn’t to remove you from your difficulties but to sustain you and provide what you need throughout the journey. You then experience that he’s sufficient, and you are not. Only then can you live in that freedom of rest and peace.

Heart

Now that you’ve calmed your mind, check your heart. Go read Psalm 121. Where does your help come from? Who is watching over you? Do you believe he is sovereign? All-powerful? All-knowing? Do you believe he is for you and will work all things out for your eternal good? Friend, God offers peace, hope, and joy. When we get our heads and hearts in the right spot (which comes through a right understanding of God and ourselves), we can do hard things with great joy. We can, by his power and grace, traverse rocky paths and sustain “twisted ankles” while still keeping immense hope and faith in our Home-to-come, his Promised Land. And we can carry the weight of the world on our shoulders while it only feels like a feather because of his promise of peace, an easy yoke, and a light burden. What he offers us isn’t going to trip us up, but, hand in hand with him, will lead us to the transformed life he wants for us.

Hands

Lastly, ask for help. I just cringed at myself. But when we are in those moments where the world feels like it is crashing down, we must lean into the power of community. Maybe a trusted friend or family member needs to take the baby to the doctor. Maybe you need to buy the cupcakes for the bake sale instead of trying to make them yourself. Or maybe you just need to seek the intercession of prayer warriors at your church. Sister, what if rest is eluding us because we are trying to be the hero of our own story? His strength can’t be made perfect in our weakness if we aren’t showing our weakness. Reach out, if not for yourself do it for your children or the young woman coming behind you who needs that biblical example. 

When it comes down to it, remind yourself over and over that your greatest issue in this life is not your schedule or season or the balance in your bank account. It’s sin. And you’re already a conqueror of sin through Christ Jesus. Our greatest problem of this world has already been defeated and while we remain in this space between, we aren’t living for the here and now. We’re living for the One who rescued us while we were still rebelling against him. We have been set free and promised that the best days are yet to come. Live in the hope in Christ. Live in the joy of Christ. Live in his peace. Live in his rest.