Finding Rest in the Rhythms of LifeSample

The Rhythm of Serving

One of the best ways that we can be reminded of and experience the rest that we find in Christ is through serving. We are told that we are redeemed and transformed by the work of Christ, and our life’s mission on earth is to invite people into his story. As Henri Nouwen says, “Our greatest fulfillment lies in giving ourselves to others.”[7] Through the grace of God, we are invigorated in our souls when we can serve other people. It is one of those beautiful, upside-down kingdom principles in which we are refreshed while others receive.

I love to hear stories of people who experienced Christ’s love in an entirely different way the first time they gave of themselves in service. I remember chatting with someone who signed up to volunteer at an organization that focused on serving students with disabilities. She talked about her hesitancy and resistance when she committed to do it but decided to follow through with her word. Within the first day, she said her world was changed and she was never the same again. This person began to see how her small and simple acts of service were huge in the lives of those students. She saw how taking the focus off of herself and serving others helped her to see the love of Christ through new lenses.

There are countless ways that we can find to help others. Whether it’s volunteering at a Boys and Girls club, spending time at a local nursing home, or lending time to your local church, serving can stir up an awareness of others and help us to think beyond ourselves and our desire for happiness and fulfillment.

One of the craziest things that we see in the Bible happens in John 13 when the King of Glory gets down on his knees and washes the feet of his followers. The power in this act cannot be overstated. In this instance, Jesus shows that though he has all of the power, he chooses to leverage it toward elevating others above himself. Jesus himself said that he came to serve and not be served. He was led by the Spirit as he sought to serve others. We need the same power to help, as well. It is our desire to fulfill the command to love our neighbor as ourselves that helps us realize that there is no way that this can happen without the leading of the Spirit. We can rest when we know that it is up to him to sustain us.

[7] Henri Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company) 2002.