Genesis 2:2-3 “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”
God recognizes the importance of resting. The Bible reveals the concept of rest in Genesis, telling us how God rested after the creation. He confirmed this example for us to follow within the first few chapters of the Bible and we find that theme repeated throughout the entire book. But, God also described our need for spiritual rest as well as physical rest. Our souls, as well as our bodies, crave to be refreshed by the hand of our Savior.
“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.” Matthew 11:28-30
[bctt tweet=”Our souls, as well as our bodies, crave to be refreshed by the hand of our Savior.“]
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,” Matthew 11:28a mentions those who labor and those who are laden which refers to being physically tired and spiritually worn out. I think many of us know when we are bone weary but miss out on the need to rest our spirit. What are the signs that God is calling us to rest in Him? We can start by asking these questions:
- Is there joy in the serving?
- Does God feel close?
- Has life become a rut?
- Is negativity commonplace?
Experiencing any of these feelings might indicate a need to pull away from the world and find time to spend with Jesus and allow Him to refresh us.
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on the wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
[bctt tweet=”I think many of us know when we are bone weary but miss out on the need to rest our spirit.“]
Take heart, Jesus tells us that we can find rest for our weary souls in Him. I took some time this past weekend to go away to the mountains to revive my soul. I reconnected with Jesus as I shut out the world in search of Him. I beheld God in the sunrise of a crisp, fall morning. God expressed His closeness to me in the changing colors of the leaves. Jesus swept away my negativity with the breath of His nostrils rustling in the leaves of the trees. The rut slipped away with the sounds of the babbling brook flowing down the mountainside. But, we cannot always escape to the mountains to repair our souls. So, what else can we do? Here are a few ways to fix a weary soul:
- Steal a few minutes away to share your burdens with God (1 Kings 8:28)
- Refresh your mind in the word of God (Psalm 119:121-128)
- Reflect on all the ways God loves you (John 3:16)
- Take a walk in God’s creation which God gave us (Psalm 96:11-12)
Weariness, if not repaired, will keep us separated from God.
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
We must be aware of our human frailties which include weariness and burdened. God reminds us His burdens are light and should not weigh us down. When life grows heavy, it is time to sit down at Jesus’ feet and allow Him to fill us again.
[bctt tweet=”When life grows heavy, it is time to sit down at Jesus’ feet and allow Him to fill us again.“]
Blessings,
Yvonne – #blogger, #speaker, and #author
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
It is so important to slow down and spend time with Jesus, but so often, when we get weary that’s the last thing we think of. Thank you so much for this important reminder.
Great reminder to REST our spirit, soul, and body! We need to rest to stay in this race and endure to the finish line! That’s why I am sure that naps are heaven sent blessings from God 🙂 🙂 Thanks for the post, God Bless!
Thanks Nicci and I agree that naps are heaven sent.
I love this post, Yvonne. I’ve been reminded of this recently too, and and also wrote a blog on the topic of rest (http://mindingthekings.com/finding-rest-morning-devotions/ )
I especially loved when you wrote “When life grows heavy, it is time to sit down at Jesus’ feet and allow Him to fill us again.” That really spoke to my heart. Thank you!
Thanks Jennifer
Hey Yvonne,
Love this line and tweet, “When life grows heavy, it is time to sit down at Jesus’ feet and allow Him to fill us again.”
We have nothing to give others and can’t pour into their lives when our own well is bone dry. Letting God fill us with himself and His treasures causes our cup to overflow.
Thanks for this wonderful reminder!
Amen
I absolutely love the different verses you used because they are so true and pertinent to your post. I also appreciated your point of awareness. I think many times we are unaware of our own weariness until it becomes a much bigger problem. Great post. God bless!!
Thanks Scott. God bless
Oh how I needed to read this TODAY! I have been going and going and going, but not resting. Thank you for the important reminder that an empty cup can’t pour…
Thanks for reading and sharing to remind other to rest.
The concept of Sabbath is largely lost today. At Bible study the other day, some of us older members were remembering the days when only movie theaters, pharmacies, and a few restaurants were open on Sunday. The Sabbath had been built into our culture. So many people today have no recollection of a weekly rest built into life.
Great reminders here that Sabbath is more than physical rest. Good work!
Thanks Nancy
Great post! Perfect timing! I realized this past week that I was in such a spot. Burned out. I miss nature and how it draws me to God. I’m right in the middle of one of the largest cities in our nation and can’t even see a sunrise or sunset. Sitting in God’s creation has always been used by the Lord to restore my soul. So, I’m sitting over God’s Word, listening to him and going easy on myself. Thank you for these ideas and for this encouragement.
I hope you can find time to refresh in nature soon.
Those times to get away, or just step away! I don’t get them nearly enough, I think. I usually run nonstop, but thank you for reminding me to take the time, even if it’s a short time. I appreciate Sunday mornings at church because, with no service responsibilities of my own, they are times when I can just stop everything and enjoy worship, the Word, and fellowship.
Thanks and have a blessed weekend
No matter what we are going through in our lives, in God we find the ultimate rest. Thanks for the reminder, Yvonne – I needed it today!
Thanks and God bless
Thanks for sharing this and reminding us of the importance of rest on all levels; love it.
Thanks