Rest Is A Form Of Worship.
“Look at all the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they? So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life? And why would you worry about your clothing? Look at all the beautiful flowers of the field. They don’t work or toil, and yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was robed in beauty more than one of these!”
- Matthew 6:26-29 TPT
Okay, so I know Jesus is talking about worry here, but I also believe He is talking about priorities. He wants us to live mindful of what is most important. I noticed 2 things here that really struck me today:
1. God will take care of the little things so we can focus on what matters most: seeking Him. We need God’s presence even more than we need Him to intervene for us. Just being in God’s presence prepares me to handle whatever lay ahead with more peace and faith than I could ever have on my own. Personally, I have noticed that when I start my days spending time with God, they usually run more smoothly. I am more easygoing, and probably easier to be around, too.
2. Worry has a way of cheapening our lives. It diminishes our worth and purpose down to what we collect and earn. God has made us for far more than this. God’s children are defined by more than what we wear and what we have. Knowing this makes it easier to rest in God’s love - because we stop believing the lie that says we are “failing” if we aren’t over-working.
Your worth in Christ is not something you earn, it was given to you. The same goes for God’s provision. God wants you to trust Him enough to prioritize rest and trust that your needs are a priority to Him. Please don’t run your body into the ground. Don’t sacrifice your health - whether it’s physical, mental, or spiritual - for the sake of stuff. Instead, have faith that by God’s grace, you will have what you need. Of course working has its place, but there comes a time each day when we must cease in our working and trust God to provide.
“Now, because of you, Lord, I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once, for no matter what happens, I will live unafraid!”
-Psalm 4:8 TPT
“It really is senseless to work so hard from early morning till late at night, toiling to make a living for fear of not having enough. God can provide for his devoted lovers even while they sleep!”
- Psalm 127:2 TPT
Through the act of resting, we express to the Lord that we believe He can meet our needs better than we can. For this reason, resting is an act of worship. With action, or rather, with intentional inaction, we tell God, “You are my Heavenly Father and I am Your child. I trust You to care for me and my family better than I can. God, I know You have seen my hard work, and I know You will make sure it isn’t wasted. So, I am going to rest because You love me and You say I am worth caring for.”
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’”
- Matthew 11:28-29 NLT
And friend, rest does not have to mean sleep. I struggled with lifelong insomnia until recently, and as God was helping me overcome that, He would often prompt me to do other things that were restful. Every week, even though I now sleep pretty well, I still try to take relaxing walks outside, spend an afternoon reading, or play a favorite computer game. During busier weeks, even spending time with God belting out worship songs in the car helps. Or, because some of the work I do in ministry (like writing these blogs) can be done from home, sometimes I will spend the morning writing in bed. These little ways of finding rest and refreshment really do make a difference. Often when I come to God feeling overwhelmed, what I really am is overworked. Our minds are not wired to spend all day every day rushing from one thing to the next, or to spend hours upon hours hyper-focused. We need time to be calm, to move slowly, and just… relax.
“And he replied, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”
-Exodus 33:14 CSB
As we begin this new year, please remember that God gives you grace and He gives you rest. Accept these gifts from Him and set aside time to tend to your mind, body, and soul. If you did not take a Sabbath this past weekend, or even if you did but you are under a lot of stress, find time to do something restful today. Often the one who mistreats us the most is… ourselves. You are worth caring for.
