Scripture (ESV): “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” — Psalm 23:2–3
In a culture obsessed with hustle, rest feels like wasted time. But Psalm 23 paints rest not as laziness but as leadership. “He makes me lie down…” Sometimes God has to make us rest because left to ourselves, we’d burn out. Rest is not punishment—it’s provision.
Rest restores what hustle drains. It recalibrates your perspective and recharges your spirit. Without it, you run on fumes, and eventually, even good things become heavy. With it, you find fresh strength to endure and clarity to hear God’s voice.
Jesus modeled rest. Crowds pressed in with endless needs, yet He often withdrew to lonely places to pray. If the Son of God needed rhythms of rest, how much more do we? Rest isn’t just physical; it’s spiritual and emotional. It’s choosing to pause, breathe, worship, and remember you are not God. The world will keep spinning without you.
Rest is also trust. When you stop, you’re declaring: God, You sustain me, not my striving. Paradoxically, those who rest well run further. Renewal fuels resilience.
Prayer:
“Shepherd of my soul, thank You for making me lie down in green pastures. Teach me to embrace holy rest. Restore what striving has drained and prepare me to run with endurance.”
Next Step:
Block one uninterrupted hour today for screen-free rest. Walk outside, journal, worship, or simply sit in silence. Protect it like an important meeting.
