True Rest

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

I collapsed onto my bed, mentally and physically exhausted, grabbed my phone from the bedside table, and started scrolling. It was the first time that day I’d been able to come to a complete stop, and my soul—weary from the day’s demands—craved a distraction. I might not have consciously recognized it, but I was attempting to escape my weariness, weakness, and worn-out reality.

As I pulled up social media, this thought came into my mind, stopping me in my tracks: True rest is not found in scrolling social media; it’s found in surrendering to the embrace of my Savior.

What I needed at that moment could not be found in posts, pictures, articles, or captions. It wouldn’t be found in shopping for new clothes or getting tips about having a clean and tidy home. Refreshing rest—the kind my body, soul, and mind desperately need—comes from Christ alone.

I wish I could say that every time I’m given the opportunity to rest, I choose to do what stirs my affection for Christ, but most often, I choose what’s convenient. Instead of reaching for my Bible, talking to God in prayer, or even closing my eyes and releasing every tense muscle in his presence, I run to whatever might seem like a quick fix for the stress wreaking havoc in my body.

Throughout his life, David cried out to God in his distress. David was well acquainted with stress. He had been slandered, betrayed, and relentlessly pursued by oppressors. In his exhaustion, he turned toward God, who gives relief from the pressures that squeeze us like sponges. Rather than running to a quick fix for relief, David ran to God in prayer.

By the end of his song, David conceded, “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” David knew that true rest is found in surrendering to God, who gives us true relief.

The next time you collapse onto your bed with a heavy heart and a burdened soul, redirect your gaze to Jesus and surrender to his loving arms. Remember, the same God who comforted and kept David is the same God who provides us with rest at the start and end of a long, hard day—and during all the moments in between.

Word before World Rest is a gift from God—one we receive by surrendering our fears, worries, and problems and relaxing in the loving embrace of Christ.

Grow in Grace What do you turn to for an escape from exhaustion? In moments of reset, instead of turning to your phone, TV, or anything else that dulls your affection for Christ, breathe deeply and relax your muscles and your mind in him.