The approaching Christmas season is one of the greatest competitors to finding any type of rest. With so many added activities and things to accomplish before the "big day", what should be the most wonderful time of the year becomes the most stressful time of the year. So, before we flip the calendar over to the month of December, I thought I would address this often-elusive soul rest.
I don't believe soul rest means sitting still, although it certainly can include physical relaxation. We can be pretty good at leisure, but we are terrible at resting. Soul rest is more a reprieve from inner striving, even while working, confident in the Lord's care and love. We can place so many unrealistic demands on ourselves that our souls become overwhelmed. The constant chatter in our minds and hearts are "making a list and checking it twice" and then adding to it, requiring not only more, but more with perfection.
Only two days ago I opened an online devotional I receive daily entitled, "Soul Rest". They key verse from Jeremiah 31 stated, "When Israel sought for rest, the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued My faithfulness to you."
The author wrote, "Finding true rest isn't easy for me. Maybe you can relate. My mind races with too many burdens, responsibilities, and unfulfilled dreams. Even when I try to slow down - reading my Bible or spending time in prayer - I often find myself still weighed down by the noise of life. My soul longs for rest, but sometimes it feels just out of reach." (Lina Abujamra)
Taking a deeper look at the verses from both the Psalms and Jeremiah we see that God says that rest can be found in remembering the goodness and love of God. Psalm 94:19 also reminds us, "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your comfort delights my soul." In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus extends an invitation to His children to come to Him to find rest for our souls. We will never experience soul rest without Christ. David writes in Psalm 62:5, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him."
Overpacked lives and crammed schedules deplete our souls, rushing us forward into a frenzy of activity. We might remark, "life is just crazy right now", but our "right now" has lasted for weeks and our heart cannot settle. A feeling of anxiousness has attached itself to our every moment and we struggle with restlessness. We long for just a moment of peace, yet soul rest can be a lifestyle, not just an occasional, fleeting reprieve.
The prophet Jeremiah addressed this soul rest as well when he wrote in Jeremiah 6:16, "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.' But they said, "We will not walk in it.'" Soul rest is the rich reward of seeking, seeing and following the Lord in obedience.
Until we rest in God alone, our souls will be restless. Please Lord, let our souls be at rest again, for You have been good to us.
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