Give Me a Break: Finding True Rest

The month of March was one for the books. The type of month where we literally crossed out the dates on the calendar as a way to “see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Out of 31 days in March, my husband ended up being home only 8 days total, and not even consecutively. And don’t get me wrong. We’ve been through lots of TDYs (temporary duty assignments) and even a deployment during my husband’s career, but for some reason this March was just tough.

Maybe it was the gloomy, cold weather, or the fact that we’d only get him for 24-48 hours at a time. Just enough to get excited and spend some quality time but then feel a pang of sadness when he started to repack his luggage.

All this to say, I really needed a break in March. And sometimes as a stay at home Mom, I feel guilty saying this. Who am I to say I need a break? I don’t work. I have time “off” while the boys are at school. But this guilt of not providing financially and therefore not needing a break is absurd. Everyone needs and deserves a break.

Now, when I think of rest, I usually think of the obvious. Taking a trip. Getting away and “escaping from my reality,” is my go to. So I decided to take that “break” by packing up our bags and heading to Florida to scout out our next duty station. The boys’ spring break happened to be at the end of the long month so it seemed perfect. We spent half the time doing some research and exploring the area with our friends, and the other half soaking in the sun at one of the cutest little boutique hotels that I’ve stayed at.

And though this trip was incredible and definitely helped me mentally, I came back not completely refreshed and actually a little bummed at the fact that it had ended so quickly. And as with all vacations, you come back to reality, where most often you’re left with a lot of extra work and “catching up” to do.

So I started thinking about rest in general. And not just physical or mental rest. Biblical rest.

How can we, living as Christians in a busy, chaotic world, achieve true rest? Is it even possible?

To find this answer, I had to go to the one source that would guide me; the Bible.

So, Jesus is telling us, come to Him. He will give us rest. What does that even mean? Being someone who is a control freak and has “no chill,” this was kind of a hard concept for me to understand. Until I looked further in the Bible and used Jesus as an example.
What did He do for rest? What did He prioritize?

1. Spend time alone
   • This one is a hard one, especially for moms I think. But it’s so important. Jesus often withdrew to places alone to spend time in prayer and rest, even with his busy ministry and travels. Jesus prioritized reconnecting with God to recharge his energy, away from everyone and everything around him. (Luke 5:16)
2. Carve out times of physical rest
   • Physical rest can go hand in hand with spiritual rest. It’s so easy to get bogged down by the challenges of everyday life. It’s important to take the time and give yourself a break when needed. Grab a good meal, find a hobby that’s relaxing, or just do nothing. Jesus told his disciples to come with him and get physical rest in Mark 6:31-32. Whether you’re balancing motherhood or ministry, physical rest is necessary to avoid burnout.
3. Sleep
   • It might seem like common sense but during one of the darkest times in my life, being able to just trust in God and sleep (I hadn’t truly slept in a few days), made all the difference in the world. After crying out to him in prayer, I was able to let everything go, trust in Him, and sleep. And not just a normal sleep, it was the deepest, most peaceful sleep I’ve ever experienced. I woke up with a newfound sense of peace and He completely answered all of my prayers. Jesus exhibits this in the book of Mark, on the boat during the storm, when there was chaos all around Him. Jesus was fast asleep while everyone else was freaking out. He was able to rest peacefully knowing and trusting that God was in control and the He would protect him. (Mark 4:38-40)
4. Spend time with people
   • This can be a tough one for all of my fellow introverts. However, as much as I love my alone time, there is something truly special about taking part in joyful celebrations or a fun activity with people you love. Being able to spend time in community with fellow believers, with friends and family, can recharge us and allow us to be grateful and reflect on all of God’s blessings. Jesus attended weddings, feasts, and meals with his disciples. (John 2:1-11; Luke 5:29). This reminds us of the importance of quality time and celebrating the joys of life with one another.
   • Another great example of a way to spend time with God’s people are retreats, especially with the church. I love attending women’s retreats and just spending quality time with other women of faith in peaceful settings. I’ve had several experiences where I’ve felt God speaking to me in these type of environments.

So I guess my biggest takeaway from biblical rest vs. just physical or mental rest is the fact that when Jesus rested, it was purposeful.

So I encourage you all to use Jesus as an example for true rest in the thick of motherhood, or whatever season of life you may be in. To trust in God’s provisions and protection even in the midst of the chaos of life. To take intentional and purposeful breaks to find spiritual renewal so that you can better fulfill your responsibilities. To live out the purpose that God has put in your life with a sense of peace that only He can give you.