How to Find Rest in God
Shoes are strewn across the rug in front of the sliding glass door; the basket of stuffed animals is tipped over and half empty from one child searching for that one doll; the pantry door is left open with the light still on while cracker boxes litter the counter because the littlest one wanted another snack.
My eyes glaze over and my body feels heavy as I address these same messes, again and again, perpetually on repeat throughout my day.
And I am tired. Tired of repeating the same words out of my mouth, reminding the children to pick up after themselves. I’m tired of picking up the same shoes from the rug and putting them on the shoe rack two feet to the left. I’m tired of constantly offering food when these picky eaters don’t eat what I’m giving them anyway.
Can you relate? To the deep-down exhaustion that has settled like a weighted blanket onto your soul?
Maybe these aren’t the areas where you struggle. Maybe you’ve figured out how to create life-changing schedules and organizational systems that keep your kids from making these messes I’m talking about. But my guess is, you’re tired because of other reasons.
As a society, we have a lot to be tired from. Our culture tends to brag about busy-ness, wearing it as a badge of honor. The busier you are, the more you’re worth. The more full your schedule, the more right you have to speak of your weariness.
But friend, God calls us to a different way of being. He calls us to a place of rest in Him; and this place of rest exists outside of getting more sleep at night (although that’s part of it).
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How to Find Rest in God
With so much weighing on us as at all times, it can be difficult to pinpoint exactly how to find rest in God. But God calls us to rest in Him, so it’s our job to make it a priority for ourselves.
God created rest.
Genesis 2:2-3
2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
God Himself created the idea and practice of rest. God needed rest after the creation of the world, and He knew that as humans, created in His image, we would require rest as well. A day for rest is holy because it is God-given and blessed by Him for us. Rest is a blessing, so we should stop treating it like a luxurious suggestion and take it seriously. You don’t have to feel guilty for needing/wanting to take time to rest.
Identify the areas of rest you need.
Matthew 11:28
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
According to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and her book, Sacred Rest, there are seven different areas that require rest: spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, sensory, creative, and social.
If I am getting a full eight hours of sleep at night but still feel exhausted, then it’s likely that I’m suffering in one (or more) of these other areas and require rest in a different way.
Dalton-Smith’s website offers a great resource outlining different ways to get rest in each of these areas, which I highly suggest checking out if you feel like one or more area is suffering.
Ask for rest.
John 14:13-14
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
God knows that we need rest, and He knows when it’s hard and why it’s hard for us. But He is so faithful, and when we ask Him to meet our needs, He will meet us where we are.
This doesn’t always mean that He’ll just take away the exhaustion, but it does mean that He’ll provide a way for us to get the rest that we need. How He does that is going to look different for each of us, but if you need it, ask for it.
Make God a priority.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
God wants us to seek Him first. Part of finding rest is by thinking of ourselves less and focusing on God more.
God knows what we need better than we do, so above all, we should be pursuing Him and trusting that He’ll take care of everything else.
Find a time that works to meet with God daily, but also remember to consult Him throughout the day. In your joys and sorrows; in the mundane and the extraordinary; in whatever your day holds, pray without ceasing, bringing God into it all.
God, you know our needs better than we do. You have given us rest as a blessing, and we pray that we will take it seriously and prioritize rest in our lives through you.
We are so grateful for the soul-filling rest you provide. Thank you for your provision. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I am so tired friends, and I know so many of you are as well. I’m learning that I’m not prioritizing rest in the way that God intended, and it’s weighing heavy on my soul as a result. I pray that moving forward, we can all prioritize God and prioritize rest to receive the rest that we desperately need.
Blessings Friend.
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