I’ll be honest, a lot of us are dealing with major stressors in our lives. Maybe it’s job stress. Maybe it’s a loved one who is struggling with health challenges. Maybe it’s the overall state of our nation and world. Whatever it is, our natural tendency is to try to “fix” it, or stay at a level of high alert, waiting for the next crisis to occur.
In our info-saturated world, it’s easy to find ourselves in a constant state of anxiety. And this isn’t just in regards to current events. It’s obsessively checking our work email at 10 at night. It’s wondering whether that inquiry sent to a friend or family member will receive a quick response, or if they even read what you sent. And yes, it is also the constant news feeds we receive on all our devices every day.
You don’t need me to tell you that our bodies and minds weren’t designed for this kind of constant vigilance. And when we’re stuck in a state of heightened vigilance, it’s easier for us to assume that things that are different are harmful. It’s easier to assume the worst rather than the best. So as we enter into the summer “break” period, I invite you today to rest.
Rest. Find ways to relax your mind and your body. Rest. Allow yourself the opportunity to turn off the firehose of information that comes through all your devices. Rest. Entrust the care of your loved one to someone else for a few hours. Rest. Because when we allow ourselves to rest, when we allow ourselves to be still, we might find that we begin to hear the Word of God whisper in our ear words of grace and life.
Jesus tells the crowds gathered in the gospel of Matthew, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Even for the people of first-century Palestine, the idea of rest was something that they desired. I hope we desire – and are willing to seek – the rest that Jesus offers. Because the rest of Jesus is the rest where we realize that it’s not all up to us. The rest of Jesus is the rest that reminds us that God is ultimately in control.
So today I tell you: Find rest in the Lord. Trust in Jesus. And in trusting Jesus, know that everything is in the hands of a God who loves us. And this God who loves us will lighten our burden, and lead us on a path of faithfulness that we can only truly know when we trust and rest in the promises of God found in Christ Jesus. May you find ways to rest in a meaningful manner this summer and into the new year.
Pastor Chris