Rest
Sara Carle / Office Manager, Administrative Assistant to Congregational Care, Spiritual Formation, and Missions
“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
It’s been just over a year since I became a staff member at Eastern Hills. It’s amazing how quickly a year can go by. Before I left my previous employer, I kept feeling like the Lord was telling me that I needed rest. I had been working a pretty stressful and demanding job for the last 20 years and it was taking its toll on me physically, mentally, and on my family. It was time to rest.
But what does that mean, really? The phrases, “I’ll rest when I’m dead” and “no rest for the weary” come to my mind. The dictionary defines rest this way, “cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength.” The Bible shows us God’s plan for rest in a few places. It talks about how God rested on the seventh day, how God’s people were supposed to let the land rest every seven years, and how God’s people should practice rest on the Sabbath.
I’ve been thinking about this idea of rest for awhile and what it means in my life. This last year has been anything but restful if you’re looking at it on paper. Professionally, it came with a new job and new responsibilities. I am now the office manager for the church, but also the administrative assistant to Spiritual Formation Department which encompasses groups, care groups, next steps, and missions, and to Congregational Care Department which encompasses prayer lists, mealtrains, hospital visits, card ministry, etc. and Legacy Builders. Personally, it came with college visits, senior year activities, sporting events, graduation, parties, my son started a new program for school which required extra transportation, band trips, etc. Yet in all of that, I’ve still been able to rest, to be present in my family, and to be grateful because of God’s promise from this verse. When I remember to rely on His promises and rejoice in His goodness, I then get to relax in His presence.
Our worlds are spinning at such a fast pace these days, how are you finding true rest in the midst of it?