(By Rachael Stahl)

I recently had a conversation with a friend in which we were discussing summer plans. She shared that her children were asking for a break—a season of rest—from their extracurricular activities. She was not sure if it was a good idea. She is afraid that if they take this time off, it will set them back in the long run. She may be right to an extent. 

Our culture is fast paced and competitive – you snooze, you lose, right? Our culture believes that rest equals failure, a setback, laziness, or retirement. How did we get to a point where we even wonder if rest is a good idea? I, myself, have felt guilty for resting at times. 

The reality, though, is that God tells us we need rest. He commands us to set time aside to rest. He calls us to Himself, because He wants to give us the gift of rest. He has built rest into the story of creation and the story of our lives. 

Why don’t we want to rest? 

If our identity is rooted in what we do, being restless seems like a great thing. Our world chants “greater, bigger, and higher” as the anthem for success. This often comes at great cost. If we stop to rest, we may miss something, be surpassed, overlooked, or looked down upon. Rest often seems as the only thing we can afford to give up. 

However, a foundation built on works and the praise of man will never satisfy the longings of our heart. It will keep us in a continual race to be the best or to get more, leaving us perpetually restless and unsatisfied. Who can sustain that life and feel free? 

Additionally, when we rest it requires us to quiet our surroundings and become vulnerable. Rest is an experience in being known by God and knowing Him. As we vulnerably sit still and still ourselves, God’s kindness highlights areas of our heart and life that need attention. This can be scary, hard, and painful. So busyness is often used as a tactic to avoid slowing down and addressing the areas that God is revealing. God is relentless, though, and He’s after your heart. He will keep bringing those things to the surface. 

The Invitation 

In Matthew 11, Jesus gives us an invitation. He says, “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” The only thing we need to do is come, to answer His call. As we set aside our ambitions and still ourselves, He greets us with the gift of rest.  

Oswald Chambers writes this regarding Matthew 11:28:

“…and I will give you rest”— that is, “I will sustain you, causing you to stand firm.” He is not saying, “I will put you to bed, hold your hand, and sing you to sleep.” But, in essence, He is saying, “I will get you out of bed— out of your listlessness and exhaustion, and out of your condition of being half dead while you are still alive. I will penetrate you with the spirit of life, and you will be sustained by the perfection of vital activity.”

Being purposeful about taking time to rest is being wise about setting healthy boundaries, so that you can follow the path God has for you. Responding to Jesus’ invitation is not time wasted or opportunity lost. Rather, it is life given. In our time of rest, Jesus infuses us with strength, clarity, and perfect peace, so that we can go on and do the work He has set before us.