When is the last time you stopped to relax? I’m not talking about a quick pause from life to grab some water and catch your breath, or sitting down for five minutes to re-tie your shoes before you continue with the hurry-flurry-scurry of life. No, I’m talking about the kind of relaxing where you stop everything, put your feet up with a hot beverage of your choice, maybe a good book or calming music playing in the background, and simply do nothing but relax.
I still enjoy looking up words in a dictionary, and for those of you who remember what a dictionary is, Merriam-Webster defines the word, ‘relax’ this way. To make less tense or rigid. To relieve from nervous tension. There are other definitions of ‘relax’ listed, but I’ll go with these two, as I believe they apply to us all. Personally, I spend far too much time feeling tense, and I suffer from ‘nervous tension’ more than I care to admit. Do you need to relax more, especially when God has something to say about it for our mutual benefit?
“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 NIV)
This verse helps us to remember that we are never far from Jesus. The Lord is always there for you and me, and when we come to Him, He offers us much-needed rest. Jesus understands what we are going through—all the exhaustion and worry in our lives and all the burdens we carry each day. He sees how busy we are just trying to survive and keep the bills paid, notwithstanding trying to keep our heads on straight, when around us, the world does all it can to drag us under.
When we come to Jesus, He offers us a way out. He wants us to relax and rest in Him.
It’s no secret that relaxing and resting enables our bodies to function properly and to better heal from sickness, injury, and stress. Rest allows for us to have more energy to tackle each day—to recharge our batteries so we can think clearly and make good decisions for our lives and those we love. From a spiritual standpoint, rest gives us time to better connect with God and His plan for our lives. For me, the ultimate goal is to relax more in Jesus and allow Him to provide rest for my weary soul. Are you in?
I’ll leave you with a few other Bible verses about resting and relaxing in the Lord.
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalms 4:8 NIV)
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14 NIV)
The other day, my wife and I were helping a dear friend settle into her new home. As we unpacked boxes and set up bed frames, her very sweet dog, Kia, was resting nearby on the kitchen floor. As I snapped a photo of her, I thought about how restful she looked despite the busyness around her. It made me think about how important it is that we all take time to relax and rest, especially in the loving arms of Jesus.
Paul Smyth
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
