Without being aware, we can find that we are in constant motion and never truly at rest. This lack of rest can originate from our packed schedules, connection to technology and pressure to perform. We strive for acceptance, to earn respect, position, love, value and to fulfil our purpose. Unfortunately, all this striving and motion with no proper rest will inevitably leave us tired down deep on the inside – we become soul tired.
I realised this week how often I allow myself to get soul tired. It’s perhaps more challenging than we may think to stop and rest, cease from our busyness and constant thoughts, and seek solitude and silence. We may even struggle with guilt or feelings of failure when we can’t. But that’s okay because not being able to rest reveals where we are seeking to be in control, where we are stressing, striving and often living in fear and where we haven’t surrendered to God.
Being aware of what we cannot rest about reveals why we feel soul weary and is the first step towards restoration for our souls and refreshing our spirits. God wants us to know true rest, where we know who we are and our life and purpose.
However, we can’t know that rest until we allow ourselves to be still and face what is going on in our thoughts and deep down on the inside of us. Only then, as we choose stillness and awareness, can God go to work to bring restoration, healing and strength to our tired souls.
Everything changes when we rest and learn how to remain seated in that rest. We start to understand our identity and purpose in God and how to walk in our authority.
Instead of stress and striving, there comes strength and calm. Instead of fear and worry, we live at rest and peace.
Today I encourage you to intentionally set aside some time to be still and rest…even for 10 minutes a day alone, creating stillness amid your usual motion and schedule. No phone, no technology, no noise, no interruptions. Just you, the quiet and God, as you allow Him to do some work.
For He says, “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 TPT)
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”(Isaiah 30:15 NLT)
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still water. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”(Psalm 23:1-3 NKJV)
Prayer: Lord, I’m choosing to take time for quietness and stillness with you today. Please help me to be aware of the places in my life where I am struggling to be still so that I can surrender them over to you. That I would learn how to rest and trust you more and remain in that rest all day. In Jesus name Amen