The other day, Terri reminded me that I needed to rest, too. It wasn’t what I wanted to hear, but she was right. It’s good to have a wise wife.
In today’s culture, rest feels rebellious.
Let’s face it: We live in a world that glorifies hustle. The faster you go, the more you produce, the more you are valued. And that’s so not me at the moment. When we stop and rest, we push back against the lie that we are what we produce. Due to the nature of the world we inhabit, rest is a form of resistance.
God built rest into the very fabric of creation. After six days of work, God Himself rested; not because He was tired, but to set a pattern for us. The Sabbath was never meant to be a burden; it was meant to be a gift. Jesus reminds us of this when He says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). Yes, rest is a gift.
In my recovery journey, I’ve had to learn that rest isn’t laziness, but life-giving. Slowing down, breathing deeply, stepping away from the noise aren’t wasted moments. They are holy ones.
When I choose rest, I’m saying:
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- I am more than what I produce.
- My worth isn’t tied to my pace.
- God is in control, not me.
Rest is resistance against a culture that would rather see us burnt out than filled up. We live in a world that is happy to drain every drop of energy from us.
Maybe the most radical thing you can do this week isn’t adding something new to your schedule, but subtracting something. Take something OFF the calendar. Perhaps the holiest act isn’t speeding up, but slowing down.
When we rest, we make room for God to restore our soul.
Until my next post…
Be salty, stay lit.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
“As an ambassador for Christ, Rainer Bantau is passionate about helping people thrive and flourish as they grow in their relationship with Jesus and discover the work God has called them to do. Rainer and his beloved Terri live in Richardson, Texas.
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