Hey friends, I wanted to send you an idea about rest. When life hacks don’t work, when the cat naps aren’t enough, when the glass of water and fresh air doesn’t refresh us… How do we get rest? Let me share this story with you…

A few weeks ago, I putting our kids to bed and instead of sitting on the couch to scroll through social media while giving reminders to brush their teeth and grab a book, I decided to lay on my bed with the door open to keep track of the kiddos progress. My husband was also in our room on his laptop as our boys were winding down. I ended up not putting the kids to sleep because I instantly fell asleep. I don’t remember if they brushed their teeth or finished their reading time. I was out like a light, so my husband turned our room light off and closed our door then proceeded to put the kids to bed. You guys!

I woke up FIFTEEN HOURS later!

I woke up and my first thought was, “I didn’t even know I was that tired.” I certainly did not feel fifteen hours tired the night before.

You see, annually I take a break from social media and that’s all. This time I took my sm break I also chose to dig deeper into my relationship with the Lord, to put the extra time into reading and learning. In that month off, I took two and a half weeks off from ministry. I didn’t attend zoom meetings. I didn’t make phone calls. I did keep my blog running and focused on my family and the season of life we are in.

Cleaning and remodel projects are therapeutic for me when they aren’t rushed. So naturally during my break I started to see my creative side show up. I was able to sand and paint the mantle above our fireplace, as well as finish the tile in our kitchen.

While I was tiling my kitchen, shortly after the night I slept fifteen hours, I was listening to the Bible on audio which is a common practice for me while cleaning and being creative. I was listening to the book of Hebrews and anticipating one of my favorite verses coming up.

Hebrews 4:12. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

As I was tiling I was reminded and surprised the setting in which my favorite verse was in. (Think: Context Principle.) Chapter four of Hebrews is talking about a true rest for believers. The author discusses the unbelieving generation that couldn’t enter the promised land, he shares about God’s seventh day of rest, and includes David and Joshua to further present his case that there is a true rest that we as believers can experience.

So when life hacks don’t work how do we (disciples) find true rest? I mean, life is upside down, but thankfully God has already prepared for us a rest if we believe.

In a nut shell, here are some ways to receive true rest in this crazy life:

1. Ask yourself, are you obeying the Holy Spirit? What was the last thing he asked you to work on? Do you have a plan and are you sticking to the plan to obey completely? Usually, when I am not following a plan, for example my budget, I’m not at peace.

2. Ask yourself, are you truly honoring the Sabbath? Let’s choose to believe that the Lord can do more with our six days of work, than we can achieve working seven days a week.

3. Ask the Holy Spirit, is there someone I haven’t forgiven? Unforgiveness will rob someone of their sleep and distract them during the day. When I can’t sleep I have learned to quickly identify who has offended me, even if it’s for something that is “no big deal”, and I go deal with it as soon as possible. Here is a blog post I wrote about three years ago, sharing my own journey of harboring unforgiveness and here is a quick link for how to practically begin to unpack the unforgiveness we are carrying.

4. Ask the Holy Spirit, is there something I have done wrong? What sin is the Holy Spirit wanting to highlight and clean out of our life? The journey of Sanctification is in the Lord’s timing so when something isn’t right, ask the Lord what that is. Let’s trust that when we don’t have peace He is leading us closer to him.

Yes, each of these are hard to do but usually we can’t receive a true deep rest because we may have more than one of these working against us. Can I encourage you? You will be able to think clearer, laugh more, feel deeper, and cherish and steward the relationships in your life when you are truly rested.

You are so loved and life is so exhausting. Do the hard work. Your days are valuable and the Lord wants to give rest to your soul.

Who do you know that needs a deep rest? Copy and text this link to them!

Here are scriptures to think about:

“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.” Matthew 11: 28:30

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servants, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.” Exodus 20:8-10

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

“The Lord replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

“You will keep in perfect peace those who minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3

“It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalm 127:2