Rest

By Maggie Parker

Be still and know that I am God;  

I will be exalted among the nations,  

I will be exalted in the earth. 

Psalm 46:10  

As a mom of two young children, I'm always exhausted, and it seems like there's never enough time for rest. Even when I don't have anything immediately on my to-do list, there's always something to worry about that keeps me from experiencing rest.  

Over the past couple months, I've been led to the idea that how we rest is more important than the amount of time we rest. Often, when we think of rest, we think of binge watching a favorite show or shutting off your brain by scrolling social media. In the book The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, the demon, Screwtape, detests music and silence. He describes how hell is constantly filled with Noise, “the audible expression of all that is exultant, ruthless, and virile.” The Noise to which Lewis refers seems to be the constant social media presence, streaming services and 24-hour news in our modern world.  

In Psalm 46, we are reminded that God is our refuge. He is sovereign, and He is with us in our troubles. Verse 10 reads, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” I've learned that the way to find true rest is to not let myself be drawn into the Noise and distractions of the world. I need to renew my mind and observe a sabbath each week by spending time being still, listening to God and praising Him. No matter my circumstances or how many things I have to do or worry about, God is good and worthy of praise and attention.  

I've noticed that when I try to be more intentional about observing sabbath, I'm so much less anxious and feel more rested. Even if I am just as busy as normal during the week, I can be so much more patient and forgiving because I've taken that time to refresh my mind. When you feel exhausted, I encourage you to examine how you are resting, and if you're not already, find time to be still in the presence of God.