Prayer to restore rest
Written by Leah Girard
Bible reading:
In peace I lie down and sleep, Lord, only You keep me safe. —Psalm 4:8
Listen or read below:
I don’t know why, after thousands of years, humanity still seems to be stressed about whether or not peace can be found in the daily struggle to survive and thrive. Even though we have the gift of Biblical wisdom to explore and meditate on, we often fill our lives with more than we can, frankly, physically and emotionally handle. Add to that the heavy guilt that comes from stewing over your unfinished to-do list, and the decision to cut it all aside and take a break can feel irresponsible. Maybe it’s impudent.
And I need this reminder today too, because I find myself rushing, worrying, and pushing myself too hard.
We must remember that God’s ultimate plan is restoration. And you can’t even spell it without rest.
This is found in the first book of the Bible. Even God Himself needed time to rest after performing the immense miraculous work of literally creating everything. Genesis 2:2-3 says:
“By the seventh day God had finished the work that he had done, so on the seventh day God rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.”
Now, God is both perfect and infinitely capable. It’s plausible that he doesn’t need any downtime at all. But at the beginning of his love letter to us, he tells the story of how he came to choose to rest.
Of course, you and I were not created to be gods. Each of us has a beautiful biological rhythm that requires sleep. Science has also proven that chronic stress without rest to renew our cells and systems can foster many diseases and challenges. While it’s true that our bodies will eventually deteriorate and end up living forever in heaven, there’s no reason to intentionally hasten their decline by refusing to let go, relax, or sleep.
I remember when I was taking care of my son in a temporary apartment between jobs, going through painful life changes and an incomprehensible lifestyle. One of my healing habits was to write scriptures on index cards for easy reference. Many nights I took the card next to my bed that had Psalm 4:8 written on it and whispered it out loud to God.
“I lie down and sleep in peace. Lord, only You make me safe.”
Because of this truth, I knew it was okay to release all my fears and worries. I told myself that God would watch over me and keep me safe.
When you have trouble sleeping at night, when your body demands you to sit and do nothing, or when you just want to get something done to wind down, Psalm 4:8 may also help. Or Psalm 23 may encourage you that God is inviting you to lie down in green meadows and relax by calm waters. And why does he offer these things? To refresh your soul.
Reclaiming your God-given need for rest requires a shift in energy from effort to trust. Remember that in 1 Peter 5:7, Jesus asks us to cast our cares upon Him. In Philippians 4:6-7, Jesus invites you to take your requests to God and trust that He will guard your heart and mind.
God does not want you to work too hard without refreshing, but He does want you to participate. God wants you to seek peace and cast your fatigue into His loving hands. Through Jesus, we are given an eternal invitation in Matthew 11:28-30.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Rest is a place where you can know that you are loved for who you are. Not because of your work or accomplishments, but because you are a beloved child of God.
Let’s pray.
Dear God,
Remember that rest is an intentional gift from you. Remember, I’m not proving myself to you. Rather, I congratulate you on your good intentions. How can I relieve the pressure on myself and make room for the recovery that my mind, spirit, soul, and body need? What are your ideas for relaxing and enjoying unplanned time, naps, and sleep without feeling guilty? I know you want what’s best for me. Please help me get out of the way of the sugary drinks you offer. How can I get my rest back?
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Discuss today’s devotion with others in the “Daily Prayer” thread in the Crosswalk Forums.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Halfpoint Images
Leah Girard is an experienced writer, poet, voice actress, and former faith editor at Crosswalk.com. She currently co-hosts the podcast “Your Daily Prayer” on LifeAudio and shares peaceful, reflective poetry inspired by the wonders of nature on Instagram @wildpeace.poetry. Leah enjoys life with her husband and grown children, and walking in the woods with God.
Related resources: What to do when God seems far away
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In this episode of the Unhurried Living podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with theologian and spiritual formation professor Kyle Strobel to discuss his new book, When God Seems Distant, co-written with John Coe. If this episode helps you focus your work and life on God, be sure to follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode.
