Finding Rest and Trust in God

At the very end of summer, I went away for a few days for a conference on rest. The logical part of me was in a panic. I started a new position at work a few days after I returned home. What if something happened? What if I couldn’t do all I needed to? Is this really worth the risk? The planner in me panicked, but the non-refundable reservations kept me from canceling. And…it was absolutely worth it.

The conference I attended was exactly what I needed before going into this season. As I’m in the throes of that busy transition season now, I felt it appropriate to share my take-aways, both from a place of receiving rest and from a place of managing a never-ending to-do list.

Rest and trust go hand-in-hand.

Our ability to rest depends on our amount of trust in God. If we trust Him enough to handle the things we can’t, we will find true rest in Him.

As Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (ESV).

We want that lasting rest for our souls, not just a refreshing burst of energy that comes from a 20-minute power nap. We experience true rest when we surrender our limitations to our limitless God.

Rest involves trusting God to provide, even if His provision isn’t what we expect.

God knows what we need better than we do…not just what we need today, but what we need to prepare for what’s next. There’s a point where we have to stop striving. If we overwork ourselves, even for good things, we miss out on letting God be God. We wind up trying to do it all and be it all, without leaving space for God to show us His true character. Our rest demonstrates our trust that God will provide our every need, just as His Word says in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (ESV).

Treating rest as a commitment in our schedules can be – and should be – just as important as everything else. Not something to compromise or put on the back burner.

Throughout Scripture, we find that:

• God worked hard, and He rested (Genesis 2:1-2)
• God commands us to honor the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11, Isaiah 58:12-14)
• Jesus often withdrew from the crowds to rest from His work (John 6:15, Matthew 14:13)

If we work without resting, we burn out. And that, my friend, is not what the Lord ever intended for us. We work hard and we rest well.

My plan, upon the beginning of this season was to take pressure off of myself. To accept God’s grace for me as I adjusted to another new normal. I was committed to being present, even when it had to mean cutting back.

So what does this look like for me now?

• I schedule my commitments for each day, one month at a time. While some things are fixed, others are flexible on my calendar. I have prioritized rest on the weekends, and one day a week after work, I have scheduled rest time to do whatever brings joy to me on that day. Sometimes it’s writing, other times it means calling a friend or resting in bed. Every other day, I’m committed to making progress with my personal goals. And, as much as I can help it, my work stays at work.
  • So far, this has helped my perfectionist, well-planned self feel productive while delighting in rest. I look forward to my rest days, and I also celebrate the wins I make on my work days.

• I no longer allow myself to wallow in guilt for not being present to everyone all the time.
  • I recognize that, when I rest, I am the best version of myself to whoever is in my life. As long as there isn’t an immediate need, I set boundaries on how much time I give to texting, calling, and socializing. Genuine friends respect my needs and won’t get angry at a response that comes an hour or a day later. This has helped me prioritize my time and relationships in a healthy way.

• I set time limits on my work (professional and personal), and make peace with not doing everything.
  • As long as I do something, I no longer beat myself up over not reaching my goals. Progress does not have to mean an entire task or project is done. Progress can be as simple as one step forward.

The outcome of setting healthy rhythms for rest has been incredibly fruitful. God has blessed my time beyond what I knew possible. And I know, as you too commit to habits of rest, He will do the same for you.

Friend, I want to hear from you! Which of these truths or practical steps resonate most with you? How do you incorporate rest into your routines? Share your thoughts in the comments!