Rest for the Weary

I have struggled to write the post for days. Ironically, the first time I sat down to write this post, I couldn’t because I was so tired. I took a nap. I needed a little rest for the weary.

Why? Because what I thought was rest for the weary, really wasn’t. And to be honest and open about that is a whole new thing.

I have believed rest to be taking a nap in the middle of the day because I was too tired to keep going. 

Rest was something that was done because my body said, “No more.” 

Rest is going to bed at night and sleeping. 

Rest is going on vacation and racing from place to place to be able to see and do everything on the list before racing back home to start the work week all over again. 

I am learning a whole new way to rest. 

While rest does include some of those things, it also includes a few more. 

Like working and praying from a place of rest. 

Like living your life from rest. 

What the heck does that even mean??!!!

I honestly had no idea, and I’m guessing many of you don’t either. I thought I did. And then I learned something more. 

²⁸ “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

When it comes to rest, we think we must get everything done, and THEN we can rest. Or maybe, we need to take on some more projects, items, and things so that others can rest. We certainly don’t need to rest as much as they do. Then we have the religious mindset of rules and regulations. We also have traditions and things we need to do to be a “Good Christian”. 

That isn’t what Jesus calls us to do. He just says to take His yoke and learn from Him. He says we will find rest “UNTO YOUR SOULS”. 

Wait. WHAT?? Rest unto my SOUL?? 

That is what real rest is. SOUL REST. That is what I am learning about. It’s not about doing all the right things. Getting this project or that project done. 

It’s not about praying the right way. 

It’s not about attending the right church at the right times. It’s not about spending the right amount of time there. 

Jesus wants your heart. That’s all. You don’t have to keep performing and doing and being and checking off boxes. 

He only wants your heart. 

And if that’s all you give him, that’s enough. 

Souls- it’s time to rest. Stop rushing around getting all your boxes checked. Stop doing and praying all the right prayers and doing the right things. All of that busyness is fine for a while, and sure, things do need to be done. Don’t get me wrong. The kids need feeding and changing, and the animals need to be taken care of. 

And your body does too- I am not saying that all you do is lie around on the couch now. 

What I am saying is that the Christian life is not about what you do. The prayers you pray. The foods you eat or don’t eat. 

It’s all about your heart. Does he have your heart?? Can you give Him your burdens? Good. Now, rest and learn from Him. Take on His yoke. Do what He is calling you to do. 

Rest. 

Blessings.

If you would like to read some of my other posts about rest, check out:

Enter into His Rest; For He Loves YOU!

Work from Rest

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