A letter about Rest

Jesus told them a parable about the need to pray always and not lose heart

~Luke 18:1

I suspect the biggest reason prayer doesn’t come easily to us, is because we’re not good at resting.

Sure, summer is quickly approaching. Perhaps your thoughts are turning to a quieter schedule. Maybe you’re even looking ahead to a vacation. But have you ever returned from a long-awaited vacation, even more tired than when you left? 

I know I have!

We’re an all or nothing people. We work, work, work until we’re totally exhausted. Eventually we decide it’s high time we take a rest. So we cut out any and all work for a few days, perhaps we even go to the beach. 

During those days set aside for nothing but rest, we jam in as much relaxation as we can. We end up exhausting ourselves, trying to make sure we get as much leisure as possible! It’d be comic if we weren’t all so worn out, so often…

Yet Jesus says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Who among us, can’t count ourselves as weary?

Before you shout ‘sign me up,’ be aware. Jesus’ rest doesn’t come how the way we expect. Jesus’ rest comes by taking on his yoke. Saddling yourself with Jesus is the way to true rest. We assume rest comes by unbinding ourselves, though. Taking a load off. 

It’s all or nothing for us. It’s either work, or it’s play. You can’t have both. As the old adage goes, “don’t mix business with pleasure.”

Yet Jesus proposes a different way. 

This summer I’m hoping we can follow Jesus. Not pursuing the R&R of the world, but rather Sabbath. Sabbath, that day set aside to nothing other than resting in God.

I’m not suggesting we cancel everything and kick back, not doing a darn thing. That’s not true rest. Setting aside time without anything to do is important, and it is a part of resting. It isn’t Sabbath, though. 

To truly rest, we take time for prayer. To really rest, we stop and just worship, we spend time in the company of our sisters and brothers in Christ. To get blessed rest, we spend time doing nothing more productive than studying God’s Word.

Now, to take that time, perhaps some other things need to go. 

We all have more than enough demands on all our time, I know. Here’s the difference between what Jesus invites you to, and most of the other stuff on your to-do list; promises and threats. 

Many of the other items on your to-do list demand, “do this, or else.” Sabbath, on the other hand, insists the world will keep on spinning even if you rest. Sabbath promises you don’t have to be God. Sabbath promises you can trust God enough to sit back and let God handle all those things you’d pray for; if only there was the time…

This summer let us rest. Truly rest. Rest in the Lord. Let us take time for prayer. Worship. Bible Study. 

Jesus was telling the truth, you know, his yoke is easy, his burden is light. Come and see what Jesus was talking about, take on his yoke.