by Kala Loptien

What Does It Mean To Rest?

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28, ESV

I’ve wondered, as I examine my life and our bustling world, if we’ve forgotten what it means to truly rest. I guess it’s important to know the meaning of the word not through the lens of the world, but as Believers. Taking cues from our Creator, we know that “on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” Reading further, we find out He blessed the seventh day and made it holy. Now, I could be completely wrong here; but I don’t think it was a matter of the Lord being burned out by all the overtime. I highly doubt He just needed to take a breather or a quick staycation. This was intentional. This was on purpose. He was making a very important point and precedent.

When we become overwhelmed and overloaded by our professions, hobbies and social commitments, we become tired. When we are tired, there’s a good chance certain things begin to fall through the cracks. Our devotion/quiet time starts to slip. We might prioritize rest over time in prayer, worship or authentic fellowship with others. On top of just being tired, we’re weighed down by the heaviness of heartache, illness and worry. We become weak. In our weakness, we aren’t always aware that an intense spiritual battle wages. This exhausting, potentially dark and isolating state is where the enemy prowls, looking for an opportunity to entangle. But we have a good, wise and protective Father.

He was well aware we needed additional reminders. Jesus offers up the prescription in our verse from Matthew. The invitation is so direct and so freeing. He knows our hurt and our condition. He knows what it feels like to grieve, feel pain and suffer from a broken heart. He has an overwhelming and unimaginable amount of compassion for us. He wants us to lay our burdens down so we can experience unsurpassed peace and rest. It is in that quiet, intentional time we are able to reflect, pray, recharge, worship, surrender and love others like Jesus loves them. Rest is essential — for physical, emotional AND spiritual health. We can then confidently, securely and boldly continue to “run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” I pray you find rest today.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado