Have you noticed an increase in busyness in recent years?
Many things are pulling away at our attention, and we have different responsibilities and commitments.
We often reminisce about the COVID years.
Although locked in, there were far fewer distractions.
Frequently, our priorities take a back seat.
It is imperative you look after yourself.
Are you getting enough rest?
Do you feel drained from all your tasks?
Does your to-do list need shortening?
King David says in Psalm 55:6:
“..I would fly away and be at rest”.
Like David, we often want to escape our troubles.
Towards the end of the Psalm, we are encouraged to “Cast our burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you..” (Psalm 55:22).
Sometimes, when a lot is on our minds, we struggle to find sleep at night.
This is why the above scripture urges us to cast our burdens onto Him and leave the situation in the hands of our Heavenly Father.
He never fails!
God will sustain us no matter the burden or the obstacle.
When I was a teenager, I often stayed up until the early hours of the morning, and now I shudder at the fact that I used to stay up so late.
I now know the importance of rest.
I see the difference when I do not get the required sleep length.
We all know the feeling of having adequate rest.
Ultimately, sleep affects not only our brain function but also our physical health.
Interestingly, everyone’s sleep pattern is different, and all require specific amounts of sleep to wake refreshed.
When God made all of creation..He rested.
Genesis 2:2 declares:
“By the seventh day, God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day, he rested from all His work”.
God commanded us to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8).
We must be committed to spending time with God and finding rest.
I have observed that there is often a ‘hustling mentality’ to achieve specific goals and objectives.
While this is good, we should not neglect the need to rest and replenish.
Rest brings an opportunity for reflection.
To provide clarity and reassess our daily lives.
God does not want us on the ‘go’ all the time.
The effects of overworking can cause sleep deprivation, depression, emotional exhaustion, fatigue, insomnia and hypertension, to name a few.
Overworking can lead to stress, which is widely known to cause many problems.
Sometimes, we need to take a pause.
Selah.
Many people turn to things of the world, for example, yoga or meditation, for rest, but you must flee from ungodly practices.
No matter our circumstances, God is our only rest.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
In this scripture, Jesus invites us to come to Him to receive rest; He will ease our burdens.
It is a promise that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
One of my favourite scriptures is Psalm 23, verse 2, which reads, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
God provides a place of peace and comfort; by following Christ, we are promised abundance in nourishment for our souls.
Previously, when I was dealing with my grief, I constantly filled my time and space with things to keep my mind off coming to terms with my bereavement. Whether it be work or planning to meet up with others, this was beneficial as it stopped me from dwelling in sorrow, but for a long time, it prevented me from accepting my mother’s death and delaying my healing. I would often regret the times I had time to think about my grief as it was painful, and I wanted it to be avoided.
However, this was not healthy long-term, and I knew I eventually needed to come to terms with the pain.
If we are too busy, we can miss what God is doing.
It can prevent us from doing what God has called us to do.
We must make time and space to allow ourselves to process our experiences.
I was speaking to someone last week who had lost a family member recently; I encouraged them to say only Jesus can heal grief and pain.
Psalm 62:1-2 affirms, “My soul finds rest in God alone..”.
We must enter into God’s rest.
There is an expression called ‘sleep of the just.’ This portrays individuals who have given up trying to prove themselves and instead trust in God’s love and mercy. They do not worry about the consequences of their actions and are at peace with God.
I have learned that you cannot do everything, and we must be able to say no.
My life is hidden in Christ, so striving for validation is unnecessary.
However, seeking more rest should not cause to halt productivity or cause slothfulness.
“The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing” (Proverbs 20:4).
Ensure there is a balance.
Let God take lead in your life.
Allow God to plan your schedule.
First and foremost, solitude with God is essential. When I spend more and more time with God, there is peace.
Making time with God and having times of rest with Him does come with sacrifice.
If you had to choose between prioritising work/plans and neglecting time with God, which would you choose?
Our relationship with God should come first.
Not only does God provide peace for today, but we are guaranteed eternal peace as becoming a follower of Christ .
When a loved one dies, we can be concerned for them; however, when they give their life to Christ. There is rest in righteousness:
Isaiah 57:1-2:
“The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death”.
A term often used after someone has passed away is ‘may they find rest or be at peace’ . Peace is only guaranteed through Christ alone, by His mercy and salvation are we saved and accepted into the Kingdom of God.
Hebrews 3:19 explains, “So we see that they were not able to enter because of their unbelief.”
We cannot enter God’s promised rest without faith or disobedience.
We must surrender our lives to Him.
Asking for forgiveness of our sins.
Let nothing come between your destiny.
May we always walk uprightly and in the Lord so that we may enter into heavenly peace.
“Then I heard a voice in heaven say “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on”. “Yes”, says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labour, for their deeds shall follow them” (Revelation 14:13).
PRAYER
Father, in the Name of Jesus,
We give you all the glory and all the honour,
Bless your Holy Name,
Forgive us again, Lord,
Cleanse us,
Purify our hearts,
Forgive us for any procrastination,
Let you be at the centre,
Please help us to have balance,
May our schedules be aligned with your will,
Remove the distractions,
May we not be drained,
Provide us with your rest for each day,
We surrender all to you,
Thank you for sustaining us,
We cast our burdens on to you (Psalm 55:22).
Remove the heavy yokes and burdens,
We thank you for your comfort,
Restore us again,
We declare normality in brain function and physical health,
We shall wake up refreshed,
Let us observe and keep your commands,
Let us not be overworked,
Heal us from any stress, grief or pain,
Replenish us, Lord,
May we have time to reflect and heal,
Let us pause,
Give us your peace that surpasses all understanding,
You will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).
May we nurture our mental health,
Surely, your goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives,
We shall dwell in your house forever (Psalm 23:6).
Deter everything from growing our relationship with you,
You are the potter, and we are your clay (Isaiah 64:8).
May we always walk uprightly,
We shall flee from sin and iniquity,
We will receive our heavenly rest in your timing,
We shall walk into the destiny you have for us,
I declare our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life,
In your precious Holy Name,
Amen
Written by Jaeger. V
25.02.25