“Come to me, all you
who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Christians all over the world begin Advent season this week. It's a holy time
of preparation that offers spiritual nourishment and another invitation to find
rest in biblical truths.
Rest for me as a hard-working young farm girl was found by sneaking in some
private rest time during my household chores. I'd stretch across the living
room sofa and watch TV for a few precious stolen minutes. I loved those rest times
and admit to a few burnt meals because of it!
Fast forward to years later and I’m on my own living room sofa seeking a different
kind of rest; a healing rest from breast cancer and the kind of grief that
scars the soul. Unlike the rest I enjoyed as a young girl, this one I resented because
it came forcefully, without my choosing and stole more than simple moments of
time.
I developed a love-hate relationship with rest. When I was younger I loved my
secret rest times, but now older and no more secrets, I’ve had times of rest I
hated. Why did rest have to change?
Rest is definitely not easily found in a world that boasts of faster the better, which makes finding rest even more challenging. I can recall seasons of kid's school
events and multiple sports schedules, in addition to varied work schedules, that were years of limited rest. Prior to that were the baby years when four
hours of uninterrupted sleep felt like a good nights rest. However, all that paled in
comparison to when rare disease filled my days and rest was nowhere to be
found.
No doubt, my relationship with rest has changed. Mainly due to a dramatic turn of events
that left me with lessons learned and a unique perspective on rest. During my healing
rest, I was taught about
grace and how it increases when rest is
accepted as it's offered. Rest didn't change; it remained available to me. What
really changed was my attitude about it. Hate had to change back to a love for
rest in order to maintain a healthy positive lifestyle.
During busy seasons and the busiest of times, especially during or after
illness, we are inclined to turn down loving offers to help. Ones that might be a good partner to a need for rest. We give polite yet
not always truthful responses like, "No thanks, we don't need any
help". The next time an offer of help is extended to you, ask yourself if your response is accurate? Could others help you find rest?
When we admit our
need for help and humbly receive it we share burdens, however big or small. We
find rest in this fast world and in a life that’s impossible to do alone. The exchange not only
blesses the giver, but also the receiver and both find rest from the free gift
called grace.
I’m a work in progress but I definitely strive to be a
better steward of the gift by making room for rest in my life again; like I did
as a young girl. I encourage you to join me and take time to rest this Advent
season. Even in the middle of busy choose to stretch out on the sofa and rest.
Put it on your list of things to do and Be The Change!
"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 11:29
