Rest Well

Our labor for God is not burdensome, but working with God is freeing and restful. Even in the middle of the difficult times, God is with us to help carry the load.

Click here to listen to this devotional written and narrated by Mary Harker.

For many, August is the time to begin revising schedules and activities. Summer vacation may feel like a distant memory as the fast-approaching busyness of fall begins to set in. The calendar fills quickly, like a leaky beach bucket with water splashing and spilling everywhere, leaving us scrambling to keep up. How is it possible to feel so drained already?

Although my days of gearing up for a new school year are far behind me, something about the fall season still excites me. I look forward to a new Bible study adventure with my Bible study girls and the new opportunities at my church. Sweater weather and the changing leaves energize me.

I often start the fall season with great intentions and grand ideas, but soon become overwhelmed and stuck. Maybe you can relate? How frequently do we rush ahead with our plans and forget to include God in the equation? In Psalm 46:10, we are reminded to be still, cease striving, and not accelerate ahead of God. What He has on the to-do list today may not be on our radar, and we need to recalibrate.

Our labor for God is not burdensome, but working with God is freeing and restful.

Even in the middle of the difficult times, God is with us to help carry the load. Matthew 11:28-30 says, “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.” God wants us to walk with Him in the unhurried cadence of grace. 

Do you feel in need of rest today? Consider the following questions:

Physical Rest- Do you feel exhausted even after a good night’s sleep? Are you eating a healthy diet? Keeping hydrated? Have you had a complete medical exam recently? When was the last time you took a vacation? Do you make time for physical activity?

Mental Rest - Are you holding onto unhealthy thoughts that you need to release? Are you trying to work with clarity when your environment is cluttered? Are you taking on commitments someone else could cover? Do you know how to say “no”? 

Spiritual Rest - Are you trying to earn God’s approval? Attempting to control events or people that are not your responsibility? Can you “let go and let God?" Do you make it a priority to read God’s Word and pray daily, even if it’s five minutes to read a devotional or listen to a Bible app on the way to work?

I ask myself some of these same questions and often need to reevaluate and recalibrate as I go about my day. Recently, I left two groups I was involved in to make room for the work God is calling me to do. Does that mean things will be easy? Not necessarily, but I will have more clarity and focus for the things God has called me to do. 

As the seasons change, let’s remember to take time to transition well. Perhaps that means learning new time management skills, taking a few minutes daily to listen to God, or saying “no” to an opportunity that seems great but is not right for you. Don’t let yourself get burned out; instead, learn to embrace the unhurried cadence of grace.

Father, you see your loved one reading or listening to this today. They may be tired, weary, and burned out from carrying too much. Guide their way as they learn to walk in step with Your unhurried cadence of grace. Amen.

 Connect with Mary Harker

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