When was the last time you sat without looking at your phone or any distractions and just enjoyed a moment of rest? When you take the time to rest, you start to recognize how peaceful this world actually can be. This world is a place where we are always on the go; we often forget to just sit and relax. Slowing down in this fast paced world can make a huge difference. Psalm 23:1-3 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” The Lord calls us to rest and in these moments that is where we feel refreshed. If we are constantly on the go, we get worn down. We feel frantic and often say we can’t handle what the world is throwing at us.
The next time you feel this way slow down and rest in The Lord. Just a few minutes in silence can make all the difference. The Lord wants to speak to you and restore your soul, but when do we give Him time to do just that? Take the time to rest and be restored. I know you are sitting there saying, “But I have this and that to do. I have no time.” I know this because I say the same thing a lot. I can positively say if you take just five minutes out of your day to say, “God, I can’t do this on my own; take it all,” then just sit in silence and rest. Your mind will become so clear and a weight will lift off your shoulders. Stop making excuses and just rest.
His word says in Matthew 11:28-30, “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Yet again, He calls us to rest in Him. Daily, we are all faced with burdens and become weary. We can’t do it on our own. I know I am guilty and I am sure some of you are, as well, of trying to handle things all by ourselves. As humans, we can’t psychically or mentally do it all, though. Once we realize that, our world can take a whole new twist. The burdens that we have aren’t ours to carry; they are the Lord’s. So give them up to Him and be filled with His indescribable peace that nothing in this world could ever provide.
So, I want to challenge all of you to put some time aside out of your busy days. It could be while you are eating breakfast, driving to work or school, talking a walk after dinner or finding that quiet, secret spot that you love. Just put down your phone, rest and be restored by the one who desperately is calling your name and is just waiting for you to slow down and lean into His embrace. He wants to restore us — we just have to give Him the time.
