Years ago, I remember hearing a pastor say something like this – “God didn’t need a Sabbath, but He made and modeled it for us because we do.” As a task-driven workaholic, it takes every bit of my surrender to receive the gift of rest. If you’re anything like me, I need to remember that rest is a gift, not a resource to be pulled out only when I can’t do anything else.
Receiving the gift of rest requires me to acknowledge that this is not my day nor is this my life (see Psalm 118:24 and Galatians 2:20-21). All of this, including me, belongs only to my Good God. Rest for my body, mind, and soul demands that putting down of myself and picking up the Cross, daily. For only that kind of rest brings the renewal required for the rich and much fruit that both my Jesus and I long for in my life.
Sure, I know in my head God is the One in control of every bit of my life, but my heart doesn’t know the same. Because if I truly did know this truth in both heart and head, my life would look a lot different. Different in everything from fruit borne to fears banished, contentment gained to choices glorifying my Good God, and my self denied and dead vs. salvation joyously declared and distributed (not just doled out in obligation). In other words, the soil of my soul would be distinctive in health and thus, in harvest of that 30-, 60-, 100-fold harvest of the seed, soil, and Sower parable found in Matthew 13.
Do you feel like something is missing in the soil of your soul? If so, have you considered that what’s missing could be the gift of rest? Even the best night’s sleep can’t make up for the unmistakable sustenance of soul rest. The only place we can find this kind of rest is sitting in the lap of our Jesus. And that’s exactly what He calls us to do in Matthew 11:28-30 NIV “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.”
Our Jesus knows us even better than we do.
He loves us even more than we can.
He calls us even now to come to Him.
And we can know without doubt this truth – there’s plenty of room for all of us to come and find rest for the soil of our souls today in the lap of our Jesus!
written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2024.
Soul Scientist 
Leave a comment