Rest in This Moment

The house is quiet this morning. For the first time in months, everyone is gone. Kids are in school, husband or wife is at work, in-laws have returned home, and the neighbor kids have also returned to their families after a long summer in and out of your house and refrigerator. Your first response in this situation may be to make a to-do list and immediately start to deep clean the summer of neglect off the floors and kitchen cabinets. But wait . . . I want to encourage you to take a moment, breathe deeply, and give yourself room to rest in this moment.

Sit down in a quiet corner of your house where you cannot see the dirty dishes in the sink, the laundry in the basket, or the toys strewn across the den. Just listen to the hum of the air conditioner, the melody of the birds in the yard, and even the neighbor’s lawnmower. Breathe in . . . Breathe out . . . Let your mind wander away from your to-do list and . . . rest in this moment.

If you are anything like me, you have about five minutes for this before you want to be onto the business of the day. But consider this moment as a gift from God. It is these moments where He is reaching out to you, calling you, and asking you to rest in Him.

The summer has been busy, full of fun, and loud. You walked away with a phone full of pictures and memories. After the last 18 months, we all needed the escape, we needed the change of pace, and we needed to feel like the world was somewhat normal again. But for many of us, this summer was not necessarily a season of tremendous spiritual growth. You might find your soul is a little parched and in need of rest.

Rest is important to our spiritual walk with the Lord, and many of us don’t appreciate the value of rest. I for one find it very hard to do. Sure, I can take a nap on a Sunday afternoon, but I find it hard to allow myself time in the day to just be quiet, be still, and . . . rest in the moment.

Scripture is filled with God’s promises to provide rest when we seek Him. God is an endless source of peace, comfort, and restoration. He created us to desire Him!

Rest is healing to our souls

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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11: 28-30

Rest allows us to listen to our bodies

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:9-11

Rest is a blessing from God

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Psalms 23:1-3

In the quiet moments in the transition between summer and fall, I encourage you to take time to rest. To be at peace with allowing your mind to wander, to dream a little, and enjoy a conversation with the One Who desires to know us, fill us, and restore us.

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Mark 6:31

You can read more about rest and finding restoration in Christ by reading:

Restoring the Soul

Author

  • Christine Clark

    Christine Clark is the Ministry Leader for Family Ministries at Stonebriar Community Church. She has a passion for supporting parents and helping them gain confidence and tools to be spiritual leaders in their homes. She is blessed to be the mom of a one son and the wife of her college sweetheart for 25 years. She and her husband are finding their way as empty nesters, and enjoying the new found freedom that comes with this stage of life. She is also an avid sports fan who loves all things NASCAR and football, especially in the fall in Texas.

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