Do you long to rest in God? Or does it seem unattainable in a rushing and restless world?
Rest is being at peace in your apprenticeship to Jesus. You are no longer straining in your mission but are free to live and work with him in his easy yoke of grace (Matthew 11:28-30).
You might be thinking…That sounds nice, but…
- I can’t afford to let those in my ministry down just to be refreshed.
- I’m stuck in a cycle of never-ending busyness and rest feels impossible!
- It’s difficult to discern God’s direction for my calling as a missionary and to be at peace with so many unknowns.
- If I stop holding everything together, my life, relationships, and ministry will all fall apart.
All of us experience thoughts and feelings that can rob us of the rest. These mindsets suggest that our worth and God’s favor are attached to what we do.
Thankfully rest is a gift that Jesus already purchased for you on the cross (Hebrews 4:9-10). He invites us all to exchange our burdened way of living for his way of rest (Matthew 11:28).
The Good Shepherd’s heart is to gently and humbly care for your soul’s hurts and needs. Rabbi Jesus wants to help you enter his gift of rest as you walk with him and learn from him (Matthew 11:29, Hebrews 4:11).
Rest is not something you make happen. But training with Jesus helps you to access his His and walk at His pace. This slowly forms his attitude of rest deep inside your heart.
Here are four life rhythms to help you practice resting in God:
1. Rest in the Moment
Challenging circumstances in your family or mission work can shift your soul into overdrive, likely leaving you feeling like Abba’s rest is inaccessible.
A Breath Prayer is a short, simple way to take a deep breath and embrace God’s word deep in your heart, mind, and body. This helps reorient you to God’s presence, peace, and power and cultivates a restful attitude for everyday living.
One of my favorite Breath Prayers is inspired by Psalm 62:1-5: “In Christ alone…my soul finds rest.” Let’s pray together…
- Breathe in and acknowledge Jesus as your true source of rest as you whisper: “In Christ alone…”
- Hold your breath and experience the fullness of his rest…
- Exhale and focus on letting go of stress and strain as you say: “My soul finds rest…”
2. Rest in the Day
Scripture meditation that includes times of silence and reflection can be a helpful way to cultivate a restful attitude.
When most of your time is spent studying or analyzing a text, it’s easy to get stuck in your head. Ancient practices like Lectio Divina or Ignatian Meditation bring balance and promote connecting with Jesus in deep places of your heart.
A daily routine of Scripture meditation helps to slow down your mind so that you can be with God and rest in his presence.
3. Rest in the Week
God instructed his people to keep a Sabbath day as a reminder to rest (Deuteronomy 5:15). The command to pause from work one day a week was not a burdensome rule but a blessing to be enjoyed.
This practice connects you to Abba’s love and helps you become the type of person who relies on him. It empowers you to live as beloved and trusting children in the Father’s kingdom (Luke 12:32).
4. Longer Periods of Rest
My practice is to set aside a full or half day each month for extended solitude and silence (in addition to Sabbath). These times of rest help me to enjoy Jesus, hear his voice, and sense his leading—all movements that support living inside the easy yoke.
Retreats alone or with others can be a life-giving rhythm of rest. They give you permission to slow down, engage Jesus’ presence, pray in solitude and silence, find care for your hurts and needs, and train in Jesus’ rhythms of grace.
Stepping away from your everyday life, ministry, and responsibilities helps to create an intentional space for your soul to unwind and rest in your Father’s love. A beautiful location in nature (mountains, forests, lakes) goes a long way in reawakening your soul to God’s goodness and beauty.
All four of these rhythms are helpful ways to enter rest. But here’s a valuable note: Because rest flows from God’s unforced rhythms of grace, it’s important to give yourself grace while practicing rest.
I encourage you to start with what you can and allow Jesus to increase your capacity as you walk in step with him.
As you trust Jesus to help you carry your burdens and relax in Abba’s arms, a restful attitude will flow into all areas of your life and mission for Christ. Your rested life will be a vibrant witness to a restless world!
I pray that your life in Christ flourishes as you learn to rest in his love and overflow to others.
At Modern Day, we highly recommend the Soul Shepherding Institute as an opportunity for your soul to rest through practices of solitude, silence, and prayer. You will learn how to go deeper with Jesus in emotional health and loving leadership to develop restful, healthy rhythms in your life, relationships, and ministry. You can also find more resources to get healthy and lead healthy on the Soul Shepherding website.
