When It’s Hard to Rest
Come to Jesus
by Grace Thomas
I walked upstairs to put my baby to bed. He had been awake for two and a half hours, the perfect “wake window.” I fed him some milk, wiggled him into his green sleep sack, and asked Alexa to enable white noise. I quietly closed the door behind me, gently turned the knob, and exhaled. I tiptoed downstairs but quickly heard his faint cries. He’s ten months old—shouldn’t he be sleep-trained by now?
I studied his monitor and noticed his tiny fingers clenched onto his sleep sack as he rocked back and forth. He took a break from rocking and stuffed his fists into his mouth. I heard babbles, coos, and more cries. Finally, he lay still, only to start crying again. Why was he fighting the thing he needed most?
Maybe you’ve been in this situation, trying to help your loved one to rest—to pause and be still. Perhaps you are in this situation; you struggle to choose rest over hustle.
When we’re faced with stressful seasons, Jesus wants us to come to him, even though we would rather stay up longer or try harder. Rest is a conscious choice that demonstrates God’s way is best. Unlike our loads, his burden is light. Jesus encouraged, “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).
This invitation is for everyone, regardless of circumstance or season. Jesus doesn’t tell us to go to Netflix, Target, or Instagram; he asks us to come to him. Yes, those things can be good, but they don’t give us immediate rest. All we need to do is come to him, talk to him, and spend time with him.
Jesus wants us to come to him, even though we would rather stay up longer or try harder.
When we’re overwhelmed by to-do lists and responsibilities, we can come to the Father—just as a child spends time with his father. Our external problems may not vanish, but we can find rest in spite of our internal worries. We can take his “yoke” or “work” upon us. Our duties may change throughout life, but our Shepherd remains constant. Our load may change throughout the day, but his burden remains light. He doesn’t promise us ease; he promises rest. We can trust in the Lord’s gentle and humble heart. Unlike us, he’s perfect, and we can trust his judgment. He sees the whole picture and provides rest for difficult times.
He doesn’t promise us ease; he promises rest.
But rest is something we have to learn. Just like sleep training. My newborn required slow rocks back and forth before he went to sleep. He required soothing songs and gentle sways before his breathing steadied and he closed his eyes. Likewise, we have to learn to quiet our souls and choose to trust our heavenly Father’s promises. Yes, rest will look different in various seasons. Sometimes it will be harder—sometimes it will take longer to fall asleep, and sometimes we’ll need help. But we have a gentle and humble Father who has given us thousands of truths to meditate on. We don’t have to hide our cries when we’re frustrated—we can freely cry out to God, who hears every sound.
Grace Thomas is a Christ-follower, wife, and mother who creates in the margins of life. @gracenotes365
Scripture quotations are from the New International Version of the Bible.
Subscribe to Truly MagazineListen to The Truly Co Podcast on Apple and Spotify |