The Revolution of RestSample

REST AS PURPOSE

In our modern industrial world, we are often driven by external measures of success, relentlessly pushing forward in a perpetual quest for progress and productivity. In this worldview, any decrease in output is seen as a sign of weakness or failure.

Yet, the rhythms of rest and work are intricately woven into the fabric of the created order, reflecting God's design for human flourishing. From the necessity of sleep at the end of each day to the dormant period that follows a harvest, daily and yearly rhythms of rest are embedded in nature.

So what do these rhythms teach us about the purpose of rest in our lives?

Energy Conservation:

Like plants redirecting energy to roots post-harvest, rest allows us to focus inward, deepening our roots in God, and drawing on his eternal resources for nourishment, strength, and endurance for the harvest seasons.

Shedding the False Self:

In dormancy, grapevines, for example, shed their leaves and fruit, baring their true essence and identity. A vine does not cease to be a vine simply because it is not bearing fruit. Similarly, when we embrace seasons of rest and withdrawal, we shed all external measurements of success. In a culture that values constant productivity, this may feel counterintuitive, but it is in these moments of stillness that we can return to our true selves.

Replenish and Repair:

Just as adequate rest provides physical restoration for plants, rest offers us an opportunity to replenish and repair our souls. Our bodies and souls require rest to recover, recharge, and regain the clarity needed to approach future challenges with renewed focus and energy.

Receiving Eternal Dreams:

Surrendering to rest opens channels for divine revelation, as seen in biblical figures like Joseph, Daniel, the Apostle John. These heroes weren’t working for a revelation from God. They weren’t striving towards it. Rather, the dreams were given as a gift. In the same way, God’s visions and dreams come to us when we have fully surrendered in rest.

God's invitation to rest is an invitation to embrace the natural rhythms of life, aligning ourselves with the created world and the divine design for our flourishing.

REFLECTION:

1. Are there ways you have viewed your need to rest as a sign of weakness or failure?
2. What do the rhythms of creation teach you about the importance of rest?
3. In a culture that values external measurements of success, how might rest help you shed your false self connected to these values?

GUIDED PRAYER:

"Rest as Purpose" was written by Bette Dickinson.