The Revolution of RestSample

REST AS RESISTANCE

As our world continues to increase its pace and drive, we find ourselves in the race of our lives, trying desperately to keep up, to achieve, to not miss out on anything. Sadly, for so many of us, the word ‘rest’ has become a four-letter swear word.

In a society that glorifies busyness and productivity, rest can be viewed as an obstacle to the prevalent ‘hustle and grind’ culture.

The idea of pausing to rest is dismissed as a waste of time. We find ourselves, like the hamster in the wheel, in a relentless cycle of work, busyness, and achievements. Not only does overwork become our norm, but it becomes our identity.

In order to feel valuable, useful, and relevant, we find ourselves equating our lives with what we do, rather than who we are. Work and busyness have become our rhythm, and our identity has become intertwined with our achievements.

But what is the rhythm that God is calling us to as believers? How did Jesus model rest and sabbath for us?

Throughout the New Testament, we see Jesus making rest a priority. He would often pause to rest, pray, and replenish after he’d been speaking, healing, or performing miracles. If anyone understood the importance of their purpose here on earth, it was Jesus. Yet, he didn’t cave to the pressure or serve to the point of burnout.

Jesus knew the weight of human struggles and weariness. He experienced the demands of life during his earthly ministry. He understands our exhaustion, both physical and spiritual. His invitation to find rest is an act of resistance against the pressures and expectations threatening our mental and physical well-being.

Rest isn’t just a break from activities; it is an act of defiance against a culture that disregards the importance of self-care. Most importantly, it’s a divine invitation to commune with God and find sabbath.

Rest as resistance means we no longer draw our identity from our doing but find fulfillment in our being.

REFLECTION:

1. Where is your identity found?
2. In what ways can you personally resist the hustle culture and other societal norms of busyness?
3. What action is God prompting you to take as you consider this invitation to rest and find new rhythms?

GUIDED PRAYER:

"Rest as Resistance" was written by Cheryl Nembhard.