Rest for the Restless

REST FOR THE RESTLESS
by Sara R. Turnquist

We are truly in an interesting time and place. Are we resting? Not resting? Surrounded by craziness? Even at home? Worn out?

Either way, I don't think anyone would argue that we could use some restoration...some renewal. The dictionary defines renewal as "the replacing or repair of something that is worn out, run down, or broken." So, yes, resting becomes vital.

As for me, I've never been good at slowing down, putting on the brakes, or saying that simple word that's so very difficult--"no." Rest has been more of a trial. I struggle with the fact that my overbusy, overwhelmed, and under-rested self runs at a pace that heaps on stress. Talk about needing a "chill pill"!

Isaiah 30:15 (NLT) says - "Only in returning to Me and resting in Me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it."

"...you would have none of it." Ouch! Conviction much? Yeah...

But, the truth is, God is (of course) right. We weren't created for this break-neck speed we live at. We were designed in His image...to be like Him. And He displayed the need for REST in Scripture. Look at the act of Creation:

From Genesis 1:1-2:3 (emphasis mine)
In the beginning...God said, "let there be light," and there was light...He divided the light from the darkness...named the light "day" and the darkness "night."
Evening passed, and morning came. This was the first day.
Then God said, "Let there be something to divide the water in two." So God made the air and placed some of the water above the air and some below it...
Evening passed, and morning came. This was the second day.
Then God said, "Let he water under the sky be gathered together so the dry land will appear." And it happened...Then God said, "Let the earth produce plants....God saw that all this was good.
Evening passed, and morning came. This was the third day.
Then God said, "Let there be lights in the sky to separate the day from night. These lights will e used for signs, seasons, days, and years...the brighter light to rule the day and...the smaller light to rule the night. He also made the stars...God saw that all these things were good.
Evening passed, and morning came. This was the fourth day.
Then God said, "Let the water be filled with living things, and let the birds fly in the air above the earth." So...God blessed them and said, "Have many young ones so that you may grow in number..."
Evening passed, and morning came. This was the fifth day.
Then God said, "Let the earth be filled with animals...and it happened...Then God said, "Let us make human beings in our image and likeness. And let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the tame animals, over all the earth, and over all the small crawling animals on the earth..."
Evening passed, and morning came. This was the sixth day.
So the sky, the earth, and all that filled them were finish. By the seventh day God finished the work He had been doing, so He rested from all His work. God blessed the seventh day and made it a holy day, because on that day He rested from all the work He had done in creating the world.

Did you notice a pattern? I hope you noted that God created, then evening passed, morning came, that day finished. This is the rhythm of creation. God created and then rested in a rhythm. AND on the seventh day, He took a full day for rest from all the work He had done. In the Law set up in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, the Israelites are taught other rhythms too - filled with resting the land every seven years, celebrations, festivals, forgiveness of debts, reconciliation and return of land...all in a rhythm.

Even in creation, animals and plants have rhythms to their physiology. As do we--circadian rhythm (our sleep rhythm), our cardiac rhythm, respiratory rhythm... All nature and the world goes through cycles and rhythms. Our bodies, too. Why wouldn't we be designed to do so outwardly as well?

Why shouldn't we pause, reflect, and connect with HIM in a rhythm of rest and restoration? Let Him heal us and prepare us for the next season? The next day? Sometimes the next minute? Yes, rest may be partly to restore from the previous action, but it also to strengthen us for what is to come. Because the next season may be full of wondrous plans and purposes we can't even imagine.

The LORD is my Shepherd; I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green pastures. He leads me to calm water.
He gives me new strength.
He leads me on paths that are right for the good of His name.
Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid,
because You are with me. Your rod and Your shepherd's staff comfort me.
You prepare a meal for me in front of my enemies.
You pour oil of blessing on my head; You fill my cup to overflowing.
Surely Your goodness and love will be with me all my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
~ Psalm 23 

Are you ready? To find out who you are? After diapers? After PTA/PTO meetings? To find...I don't know...deeper meaning in your life? What if, instead, you found...surrender? Surrender to the Lord's plan? to His purpose? His timing? Surrender to a new rhythm? A new perspective? A new normal?

A new journey even? A healing journey?

What would it require of you...this surrendering? Time? Focus? A shifting of priorities?

Matthew 11:28-30 in The Message Translation says "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (emphasis mine)

AW Tozer says: "The burden borne by mankind is a heavy and crushing thing. The word Jesus used (in Matthew 11:28) means 'a load carried or toile borne to the point of exhaustion.' Rest is simply release fro that burden. It is not something we do, it is what comes to us when we cease to do."

Now, practically, though....what does this look like?

For some of us, we only need allow the rest to happen - unfrezied time to be still and meditate on the Lord and His word - time of prayer and listening.

For other mommas, it's gonna take carving out the time/space for it to happen or it won't. Time to be in in the Word or listen to it. Time to be in worship. Being with Him...in conversation. In stillness.

For we are, after all, ladies in waiting. On Him. On His purposes. On His plans. In His time.