There has been a subtle shift in the culture of busyness. Have you noticed it? There is a new/old message beginning to spring up in literature, music, podcasts, etc.

The language of success in secular culture and Christian circles has been all about “hustle”.

“Get out there and grab all you can!”

It is the message of

“pull yourself up by your bootstraps”

“be a self-made man or woman”

“he/she who has the most toys, biggest church, most $$$ wins” {wins what, I wonder?}

“build that big, shiny, building and the masses will come on Sunday to hear your sermons”

I’m sure you can come up with your own statements you have said either to yourself or heard others say to justify addictive busyness, striving, and personal kingdom building with the end result being neglect of family, friends, and self-induced stress leading to dis-ease.

Psalm 23 is a familiar psalm to most people. It is often read at funerals even though it really isn’t a psalm about death and dying, but rather a step-by-step grace-filled invitation to life and wholeness. The six seemingly simple verses of this psalm are a rich treasure of peace, calm, celebration, joy, love, and blessing.

What would your definition of rest be?

Have you believed the lie that rest is for lazy slugs who have no ambition?

What was the message of rest from your childhood? Are you old enough to remember having to “nap” in kindergarten and first grade? Were there Saturday or Sunday afternoon naps in your home?

Have you ever asked yourself why God rested on the 7th day of creation?

2 And heaven and earth and all their array were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and He sanctified it because on it He rested from all His work of creating that there was to do. Genesis 2:1-3 LEB

I hope this introduction of my “rest” series will bring you to reflect on and ponder your own belief systems about success, rest, and where abundant life and wholeness begin and flow boundlessly from.

Come sit for a bit with your coffee or tea. Put your feet up and get comfy! Let’s share our hearts and learn together how rest breathes life into our weary minds, emotions, and bodies.