Personal Reflections on Rest

Do you know the feeling when an unconscious thought or mindset is brought to light?
I love it because I know I still have more to learn about life and myself.

The last few weeks I’ve been thinking and meditating a lot about rest. I realized that I had the unconscious idea in my head: “You can only rest when you have worked enough or ‘have earned it’”. 

I find that problematic - not because I work a lot - but because that voice or thought tends to speak louder than God’s voice.

I believe there are seasons in life - some seasons for study, some for small kids, some for rest, some for work….  But if I have to earn the right to rest, that becomes more important than the season I’m called into. I will not allow myself a season of rest even if God calls me to it.

For some people the reason to work (and not rest) could be lack of trust in God's power: If I don’t answer the email, get the deadline done, answer that call, nothing will happen… I don’t trust God can do anything also without my interference. 

For me it’s mainly feeling guilty if I take too much rest.

Guilty because I know the needs of the world. I’m constantly facing mental, spiritual and physical needs.

I have to learn that God is literally ‘holding the world in his hands’ (as the song goes) also all the needs and suffering.

I don’t understand it but I do trust that God's power and influence is MUCH bigger than mine.

I don't want guilt (for living in Denmark, being healthy at the moment, having a family e.g.) to be my only or main motivation for work.

I believe that God can call you and me to a season of rest - summer holiday or a longer season - because he is preparing us for something. Or he wants to teach us something. 

In my life, I believe God is calling me into a season of more trust in God’s plan and more rest than I normally would prioritize…

A question for you, do you feel called into a different season?