Rest

I’ve been noticing that even in this season of less to do, we still are weary. In a culture that always has something going, it is easy to forget how to rest. God’s Word never says, “Thou shalt fill thy time with producing and socializing.” No, from the very beginning, He valued rest so much that he gave hours of night and even a whole day for rest.

True rest is being still in spirit.

True rest lays back against the provision of God, and says, “I trust you.”

True rest allows imperfections to remain.

Jesus didn’t stride into Martha’s kitchen and inspect it for cobwebs, the latest decor, a six-course meal. Instead, He called Martha to come and be with Him.

A few years ago, God gave me this phrase, “You are always called to be before you do.” I’m still learning what that means. I’m still learning how to come quietly to Him, and, as the song goes on to say, “Listen. Be still.”

After producing the series for Holy Week, I felt creatively and spiritually exhausted, and God brought Psalm 62:5 to mind. I needed to return to this river, return to a time of quiet with Him, and call on Him for rest. Because, always, rest is a gift that I must open my hands to receive.

With this Psalm, I remembered a phrase from this prayer song, and I share it with you. Somehow, remembering my own mortality makes me less driven to produce, more willing to trust.

The Kontakion

“Give rest unto your servants with your saints, O God.
Where there is neither pain nor sorrow, neither sighing, but life everlasting.

For you, God only are immortal; the creator and the maker of us all,
And we are mortal formed of the earth, and to the earth we shall return.

For so did you ordain when you created me saying:
‘You are dust, and to dust you shall return.’
All of us go down to the dust, yet even at the grave we make our song:
‘Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.'”

Right click to listen here.

I pray this for you. I pray this for me.

I pray this for all those whose loved ones are being laid to rest without them.

I pray this for all this broken world.

God, even here, may we but taste the eternal rest for the soul.