Embracing Holy Rest

Matthew 11:28-30  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.

Have you ever watched a baby or toddler fight a nap? It can be frustrating for parents or caregivers to watch this happen. We know that little one needs their rest. We know that if they don’t get it they will not enjoy the rest of their day, and frankly neither will any one who has to be around them. And so we rock, and pat, and soothe and try to lure them into the rest they need.

Those of us that prioritize ministry service or lead ministries in our churches can get the same way. We go, go, go, especially around the holidays and other special seasons in church life, until we are just worn out. And what do we do when we hit that wall and we know in our soul we need to rest? We fight it. Just like that little baby rubbing his eyes and restlessly wiggling in the bassinet.

Why do we fight off rest? It’s a holy thing that God created as a gift for us. It’s a physical gift and a spiritual gift. Here are some reasons people might fight off rest:

• Equating rest with laziness- In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says, “I will give you rest.” Rest is a gift from God.  Many of us take into adulthood what we were taught as kids about rest or the examples our parents set for us about rest. If you were shamed for resting or often called lazy this could be a hang up for you, but it is one that can be released through prayer and practice.

• Believing other team members can’t handle things if you’re not managing everything all the time- Trusting your team members and releasing control to other volunteers is essential for a healthy perspective on rest and for building good relationships within your team. Again, it takes prayer and practice to get out of this mindset.

• Over committing- When you yes to more tasks than God has ordained for you, you’ll quickly find yourself feeling burned out and resentful. When we are serving in the capacity that God ordained, we will feel joyful and fulfilled. Re-evaluate your commitments in light of what God has ordained for you.

It’s important to learn the signs that your body and spirit need rest. For some people these can include:

• Loss of focus
• Inability to make decisions effectively
• Emotional sensitivity- more hurt feelings, more angry outbursts
• Temptations to quit
• Temptations to withdraw in an unhealthy way

If any of these sound familiar, it’s probably time to prioritize Holy rest in your schedule. You’ve probably experienced times when you were really able to break away and unplug for a while, and the physical, mental, and spiritual refreshment that it brings can make you feel like an entirely new person. Is it time to ask God to help you embrace Holy rest?