Find Rest

” Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.”

Ralph Marston

I struggled writing this blog to find the right words to convey my thoughts and express my heart. This blog has not been an exercise of restfulness; instead, filled with self-imposed expectations and pressures. So I will stop fighting for the content and let rest and peace flow through my writing. May you find rest within as well.

We all have busy lives, tough struggles, deadlines, requirements, and commitments we face every day or even every moment. These burden us down and drain the light from our hearts and souls. Often we lay our heads down to sleep and wonder where the strength for tomorrow will come. We need rest.

When should we take time to rest and renew ourselves? When you have angst and anxiety. Your heart is troubled by something in your life. You become grumpy with those close to you and snapping at them. When you feel tired and weary all the time, these are some of the indicators that you need to stop and find rest for yourself. Taking time to let go of circumstances and find renewal. 

Sitting in front of a television show all day is sedating. Drinking our sorrows numb is escaping. Getting entangled up on projects is avoiding. 

Rest is a purposeful plan to bring light and renewing to your heart and spirit. Rest is intentional. What brings joy and pleasure to your soul? What is your soul food?

• Rest the Body
• Renew your Mind
• Replenish the Heart
• Revive your Spirit

When I seek rest, it is in several activities, and it depends on my emotions which direction I choose. Give me a worthy solo hike, and my heart becomes lightened, and joy returns. Time in the garden feeling the dirt under my feet and tending to the plants, centers me. Paddling out in the water washes away the stink from my spirit and brings newness to my mind. Sitting in silence, being grateful for the many blessings, gives my soul deep appreciation. 

If you have never taken a rest period and do not know where to start, begin with little moments. Take ten minutes to walk outside to enjoy the fresh air. Do you like to write? Scribble down some thoughts you have that you want to create something new. Rest should be things of little effort that bring a smile to your face.

Rest times should be variable and costume to fit where you are when you need the rest. If you are the type that needs structure, then plan for those rest periods. If you are similar to me, it depends on the time and place, be diligent in setting time apart for it. Rest can be a few minutes out of the day or even days at a time. What is best for you and your situation? 

“I will give you rest.”

Jesus

We can use rest to find a connection with someone. I was able to reconnect with an old friend again, which brought joy to my heart. We need those friendships and relationships to help shine light where we often forget to look. Something is renewing about coffee, lunch, or some activity shared. 

Rest is needed in our lives to bring our created self of body, mind, and spirit back in balance with its fantastic design. With a renewed freshness, our life lived will bring perspective, understanding, and peace.