It is strange that the commandment that seems easiest to follow — REST (a.k.a. do nothing)— is the most difficult for us to follow. Being a grown-up, especially if any young people depend on you, means almost 100 percent of the time that: (1) you are extremely tired and (2) that you are resistant to rest. After all, rest feels like such a waste of time. Think of all the things you could have gotten done!
It is mysterious that God designed us to sleep for about a third of our lives. Doesn’t he realize how much good we could do with that time? Or (more likely) how much trouble we could get into? The reality is, God designed us exactly how he meant to, and our bodies needing sleep and rest is not a mistake or oversight on his part. God even rests on the seventh day of creation — not out of weakness but because, like every other part of creation, it is good.
In chapter four of Teen Zine 4: Relationships, we hear the simple but profound statement: “To rest is to trust.” To rest is to surrender. It is also a confession… a confession that I am not the center of the universe, and everything does not come to a halt if I am not doing something. Life can continue without me. That is a difficult thing to admit. But the one who is in charge is less interested in how much you can produce and more interested in being with you.
When rest feels impossible, imagine Jesus sleeping on the boat in the middle of a storm. How in the world was he sleeping through all of that commotion? And didn’t he realize that the disciples needed him at that moment? When they woke him up they said, “Don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38) Do you ever find yourself asking God that question when there doesn’t seem to be enough space in your life to rest? God, don’t you care that I’m drowning in all of this?
“Jesus says to you in the midst of the winds and chaos, ‘Peace be with you.’ His peace has the power to give you rest even in the midst of heavy rains and in moments when all seems lost.” (Teen Zine 4: Relationships)
Remember what the disciples did in the storm when they thought all was lost… they came to Jesus and cried for help. They did not try to muscle through, because that was impossible. They did not try to imitate Jesus in that moment and lay down and ignore the problems surrounding them, because that was also impossible. They simply cried out to Jesus, “Help!”
Maybe our problem with rest is that we try to take the bull by the horns and control it. We want to decide when and where and for how long we allow ourselves to rest, and typically we give ourselves the bare minimum. But today Jesus is reminding us that we do not give ourselves rest… he gives it. He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28)
Written by Juliette Alvey
