Authentic Rest
As parents, our lives are crazy-busy, right? We’re continuously running after something, putting out fires, or trying to stay two steps ahead. It’s exhausting. As our sons and daughters become adults, the ‘busy’ doesn’t stop, it just shifts to other things. Then, we watch as our kids juggle,and run, and try to keep up. It doesn’t stop. Many will admit they’re in desperate need of rest. But so few know how to actually embrace and enjoy authentic rest. Where do we find it? How can we get it?
Jesus said, ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”” Matthew 11:28 Could it really be that simple?
Come to me all you who are weary. That word “weary” is the word “kopiao” in Greek and it means “exhausted with toils and burdens” (1), but it’s from the root word “kopos” which means “a beating, intense labor united with trouble and toil” (2) It’s true. Sometimes we feel as if life is giving us a beating…and each day compounds with the next until we’re barely able to cope. We’re not thriving. We are weary.
But that’s not all. We’re not just weary, we’re burdened. The Greek word is “phortizo” which means loaded with spiritual anxiety, burdensome requirements (3). Jesus was addressing the rules of the Jews- so burdensome that no one could ever measure up. But today, we are often burdened by the unrealistic examples set before us, the ‘influencers’ who look as if they have it all together, success at work, brilliant happy children, a beautiful home and the perfect figure…both in income and body. They have it all together and we just can’t measure up. We feel defeated. And it’s not just in the world, it’s in the church. We’re loaded with unrealistic man-made expectations that weigh us down.
Jesus calls us to come to Him. That’s the first step in pursuing rest. We need to make the choice. We choose so many of the ‘cares’: care-giver, care-taker, self-care, healthcare…but we often forget soul care. And that, friends, is where the weariness settles into our hearts and minds and weighs on us like no other burden can. We need to stop looking all around us and simply look to Him. We need to come. We don’t need to bring a gift, prepare a meal, or get all ‘gussied up’. We come as we are. That’s how Jesus wants us.
And what will happen when we come? Oh, when we come, He promises rest. The word ‘rest’ in Greek is “anapauo” which means “to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labor in order to recover and collect his strength; to keep quiet, of a calm and patient expectation” (4) It is rooted in two other words: ‘ana’ - into the midst, or to cause motion upward (5) and ‘pauo’- to make to cease and desist, to refrain a person from something (6). Jesus steps into the midst of our busy crazy life and brings a pause and calls us upward, to Him. He calls us to stop and recover. He calls us from burning ourselves out with all of the ‘doing’ and to pause and enjoy ‘being’ in His Presence.
Oh, don’t we long to have someone say to us “Come here so you can just stop and rest, lay down your burdens and worries and take time to recover and collect your strength., enjoy the calm and take your time, there’s no rush”? Breathe that in for a moment, friends. THAT is rest! And that’s what Jesus promises us. We don’t have to earn it. We don’t need to buy it. There are no prerequisites. Jesus’ rest is free for those who come. Far too often, we’re rushing to and fro, so much so, that we can’t stop… we don’t stop…and we bemoan our weariness and wish someone would allow us time to rest and would give us refreshment for our body, mind and soul. Jesus has. He does.
We set examples for our sons and daughters in so many things…but have we shown them how to properly, intentionally rest? Have we communicated that rest is not laziness and that soul-care is not selfish? Have we lived “coming to Jesus and resting” so they can see it modeled?
Friends, let’s pray today that we and our sons and daughters learn how to Come to Jesus with our weariness and step away from unrealistic expectations. Let’s pray that we allow Jesus to step into the midst and reminds us to cease our striving and simply rest in Him. Let’s enjoy the calm of sitting with Jesus and not rush on to the next thing. Let’s take enough time that we recover our strength for what He’s calling us to, not running after what the world tells us we need to do. Jesus will give us rest. We need to be intentional to step into it.
“Father, You call us to come to You for rest, yet we seem to struggle with that. We crave relief and recovery, yet we look everywhere else but to You. We fall into the trap of busyness and always ‘doing’ but we struggle to just ‘be’ in your Presence. Help us today to come to You to rest. Give us refreshment. Unburden our hearts and minds and still our restless spirits. I pray that You would help me model this well to others, especially to (name). Lord, I pray that (name) would learn quickly to look to Jesus for the remedy for their weary body, mind and soul. Don’t let us be distracted by the pace of this life or discouraged by influencers who would set unrealistic standards. You are the Standard. Let us look to You, only, and trust that You are working in us to fulfill Your plan in Your time. Lord, give us willing hearts to follow after You and rest in You. Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb. 13:20-21)
Pray without ceasing.
1. G2873 - kopos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2873/niv/mgnt/0-1/
2. G2873 - kopos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g2873/niv/mgnt/0-1/
3. G5412 - phortizō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5412/niv/mgnt/0-1/
4. G373 - anapauō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g373/niv/mgnt/0-1/
5. G303 - ana - Strong's Greek Lexicon (niv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g303/niv/mgnt/0-1/
When We Grow Faint
Psalm 142:3 “When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me.”
Sometimes parenting takes all we have to give, and then some., doesn’t it? Let’s be honest, sometimes we feel like we are at the end of ourselves. And when our sons and daughters reach adulthood, it doesn’t necessarily get easier. The challenges grow more intense. The worries become weightier. We may feel even less able to manage things or offer wise advice.
But when we grow faint, God is still there. He doesn’t stand at a distance to watch us struggle, He’s right in our midst to support us, love us and give us the strength and wisdom we need. And friends, instead of rushing to our sons and daughters to ‘fix’ their dilemmas, maybe God wants us to allow Him to be their first call, their rock and their helper. When their spirit grows faint, He wants to be the One Who watches over them and Who is their rescuer and shield.
Let’s all take a breath and step back. When our son is at the end of himself, God is there. When our daughter is overwhelmed and sinking, God is there. When they encounter opposition and persecution, God is there. When they don’t know how to handle a situation, He does know and He will.
Today, let’s pray that when their spirit grows faint, they call out to their Heavenly Father who is there to watch over and protect them and Who will give them the strength to remain faithful to Him.
“Lord, You are so attentive to our every need. During those sleepless nights when I struggled to care for an infant, You were there. During those nonstop years of toddlerhood, You walked beside me and strengthened me to answer all the ‘why’ questions, because You'd done the same for me with all of my questions, too. Lord, you strengthened and sustained us through the teenage years and when my spirit was faint, You knew my way and were faithful to lead me in it. Now, Lord, my sons and daughters are grown and I don’t see all that they do or know where they are. But You do. Watch over them, Lord. Strengthen (name)’s heart to walk faithfully with You. Guide their steps away from or around those traps set by the Enemy and by those who would delight in seeing (name) falter and fail. Keep them safe and spiritually strong. You are faithful, Lord. Help us to trust you, always. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Pray without ceasing.