“Come Rest Your Head” by Justin March
“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.” Matthew 11:28-29
It is Labor Day Weekend, and the holiday has me thinking about rest. I ponder why I work so many hours, attend so many meetings, and have so many lists. I often feel exhausted, stressed out, and overcome by all that needs to get done. And sometimes, at the end of the day, I cannot even remember how all the hours were spent.
What does a lifestyle like this say about the mission God has created for me? If everyday is filled with countless hours of agendas and distractions, how can I stay enticed, motivated, and equipped? And if I allow the world to keep me busy, how will I ever find enough time to slow down, breathe in The Holy Spirit, and allow God’s precious words to encapsulate the messages I want to share?
When I was a small child, nothing was open on Sundays. I remember spending the days in the park, visiting my grandparents, and sharing meals with the entire family. It was always a relaxing day and a nice rejuvenation before the school week started again. But at some point, the greed of the world took over. Six days was no longer enough for the retailers, gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants to be open. If they were available every day, just think about the extra revenue they could bring in! And before we even understood what was happening, our Sundays were now just like any other day of the week. Filled with shopping, running errands, and soccer games. There were no more days of rest, and many times we would start out our Mondays feeling just as spent and tired as any other day.
For me, it all boils down to this…finding contentment. Finding that balance where enough is enough. Being okay with the vehicle I drive, satisfied with all the clothes and albums I possess, and living a life I am comfortable with. No longer chasing those new shiny things, no longer trying to keep up with my neighbors and friends, and no longer working every waking minute. Because when I allow life to tell me there will never be enough money, that what I own is not as pretty as everyone else’s, and that life is too short to not accumulate everything I can, the joy fades and the rest disappears.
When I read the verse above, I am reminded about how thin our lives can be stretched. We never take a day of rest, and we are never content. What happened to the lesson of keeping the Sabbath holy, without worry and without labor? Even God rested after his six days of creation and realized that the soul and body need time to rejuvenate. Somewhere along the line, I feel like we have forgotten how to incorporate this important aspect into our lives.
This is what I believe. When God wanted us to have a day of rest, he truly meant it. He wants us to trust that when we take a day off, he will take care of things. He wants us to understand that the world will keep turning, life will go on, and everything will be okay if we need some time to rest. We need to have trust in him, faith in his path, and confidence in his mission. And after finding peace through slowing down and enjoying God’s creation, we will then be equipped and ready to go when the work really needs to be done.
I pray you find some time this holiday weekend to relax and rest. I hope that you get the chance to spend precious moments with the ones you love. And I encourage you to get out in nature and fully embrace the beauty God has so graciously created. For in these times of rest, I believe you will find contentment in the riches you have. You will slow down and listen to God’s whispers. And if you really take the time to relax and follow God’s mission, you will find all the blessings needed to live a life of happiness and peace. It can be as simple as that. All you need to do is rest.
