Rest For Your Soul

CONFESSION #19: As bad as I am at resting, that's also how bad I am at remembering the true rest for my soul.

True rest. If I say this phrase to someone, they might think of a beach vacation, sleeping in on a weekend, or having a day off of work. But the Bible has a very different definition of true rest. This rest doesn't come from one's environment or one's circumstances. True rest comes from a person, Jesus Christ. 

Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus offers true rest through faith in him. His burden is easy and light. He provides true rest for the soul. Just like God in Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
Psalm 23: 1-3

God offers rest to His sheep, and it's a rest that far outweighs a human version of rest.

I'm meditating on this after a weekend filled with film shoots that kept me from my comfy bed until 3 in the morning. After a weekend filled with creative work, it's easy for me to think that what I really need is to spend lots of time sleeping. And I do need physical rest, but what I really need is rest for my soul. 

As I struggle through the next few days getting back into a sleep routine, I'm going to be meditating on these verses and reminding myself that only Jesus offers a true rest, which is rest for my soul.

This post is part of a 31 day series called Confessions of a Creative Christian.