Rest is essential to recovery and rebuilding. You’ll get no debate from me. Though, many of us treat it as a luxury rather than the necessity it is. Still, I always feel a bit self-serving when I’m resting, knowing the hard work that others are putting in. And I think that probably shines a flashlight into the dark of my problem. When I see another person kicking back and putting his feet up when I am busting my butt to get something done, I feel a bit perturbed. Perhaps, I grumble under my breath. More likely, I shout a few “Why don’t you DO something!”‘s to them. My children can tell you just how this sounds.

I’m thinking there are different kinds of rests. No, not half rests, whole rests and quarter rests. You band geeks are all alike. I mean different intentions of rest. Different ways to enter rest. I am indebted to Rob Fuquay, a pastor in NC and teacher at SOULfeast this year, for his suggestion of a new way to look at rest. He said the root of the word rest comes from “putting your weight on” something. Sit a spell and rest. Pull up a stool.

Rest, ye. But what I settle myself upon, where I choose to rest what has become heavy to me, is key.  Rob suggests we take the really weighty stuff and rest it on the claims of God. To trust Him with it. It gives you kind of a picture of that “bearing one another’s burdens” and “lean on me,” The…

“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

That certainly sounds like an invitation we should accept, doesn’t it? So why the guilt? Probably because we  are trying to prove to others in our world that we are pulling our own weight, to avoid their judgment, to avoid self-judgment.

Rest is something Christ offers, after we take His yoke. And, then it’s up to Him whether we ‘sit a spell’ or ‘don’t get too comfortable.’

Funny, when I force myself to rest, I never feel too rested. When I put the weight on Him, it all feels lighter. Oh, the work doesn’t go away. It’s more like the heavy hand that had been holding me down has been lifted.