Rest. Just rest. Do you find it difficult to stop and rest? What happens when you slow down and take time to breathe, to let go and relinquish control of your life to God?
This Lenten season invites us to a time of prayer, a time of reflection, and as we fast from busyness, we can give ourselves spaces in the day to go away and be with our Creator, to rest in God’s grace and find the peace we need to be peace, build peace, and preach peace to and with others.
We can find many examples of Jesus going away to rest in Scripture and such examples serve as an example to us of the value and importance Jesus gave to resting and the need for us to do so also. In the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 8:23-26), we read that Jesus rests in a boat during a heavy rainstorm, despite the rising and crashing tidal waves hitting the boat and threatening to capsize the boat. Whether we are sailing smoothly through our day or encountering tumultuous storms in our path, we need to take time to rest and be with our God.
You may find this article meaningful, 8 Examples of Rest from Jesus, as you reflect on this notion of resting and what these examples can teach us. Another reflective article, Jesus Took Time Off Too, cites more examples of when Jesus rested, inviting us to rest when we face similar situations from making major decisions, to deciding what path to follow, or to taking a break after exhausting periods of ministry or work.
The most reassuring and comforting words in Scripture about resting are “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-30). These words offer us solace in not having to carry our burdens or concerns alone. Instead, we are encouraged to give our burdens and concerns to God, to be companioned and uplifted by God. Resting in prayer, in silence, walking in nature, or however we tune into our God, this time alone centers us so that we can carry on with our lives, grow in our relationships with others, and deepen our inner life and relationship with God.
Besides the spiritual benefits of resting, there are also the mental and physical benefits to resting our minds and our bodies. Resting allows us to clear our minds, to calm our thoughts, to let go of stress and anxiety, and to relinquish our desire to control the outcome. At one time or another, many of us have found that when we sleep on it or take something to prayer, we find creative solutions or insightful perspectives for addressing a challenge or concern. Resting improves our mental outlook on life and empowers us with the physical energy we need to fulfill our life’s mission on this Earth.
By enjoying such “resting periods” or moments of being still, we allow clarity to emerge and in this stillness or resting place is where we can reconnect with our Divine Self or Divine Source. We are encouraged to be still so that we might know God, as the psalmist declares in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.”
Perhaps hearing this song, Come to Me and Find Rest, will help you in your prayer life to spend time in God’s embrace, to give over all that is in your heart to God, and to deepen your Divine connection.
If you have ever felt that God might be calling you to religious life as a Sister and want to explore what this might mean, why not join us for our upcoming Come and See Discernment Retreat, March 15-17, 2024. Give yourself time to come, to rest, to learn, and to pray with other women who are also seeking to know God’s will in their lives. Click here for retreat details and here for registration information.