Summary: Finding intentional rest involves deliberately setting aside time and space to disconnect from busyness and reconnect with God, allowing for spiritual, mental, and physical refreshment. It’s not just about physical inactivity, but about aligning with God’s rhythm of rest, cultivating peace, and experiencing His presence.
The COVID pandemic forced us to slow down. At a time when the pace of our lives seemed to be accelerating rapidly, the lockdown forced us to slow down suddenly. We found ourselves letting go of some responsibilities and spending more time with God and family. But then the pandemic was over.
An experiment was conducted in which participants received a mild electric shock. All the participants said they would pay money not to be shocked again. Each person was then left in the room alone for 15 minutes, without their phone or any distractions. Rather than being bored and alone with their thoughts, two-thirds of the participants (who said they would pay money not to be shocked) voluntarily chose to shock themselves rather than to sit there and do nothing. Pretty compelling evidence that we don’t do well with boredom or with rest.
If you study Jesus’ life you will see that He set boundaries for work and rest. In the Gospel of Luke, we read about a busy day. After teaching in the synagogue, and curing a demoniac, Jesus visits Simon and cures his mother-in-law. Then the passage says, “As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one” (Luke 4:40). The next paragraph begins, “Early the next morning …” He left and went to a deserted place. But then the passage says, “The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them.” Jesus stands firm. “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea” (Luke 4:43-44).
Jesus did not ask permission to go, nor did he leave anyone behind “on call,” or even let His disciples know where He was going. Jesus obeyed a deeper rhythm. When the moment for rest had come, the time for healing was over. He would simply stop, retire to a quiet place, and pray.
Silence is hard because everything in our culture, everything in our hearts, and everything in our world pushes us to share our thoughts and express our opinions. Op-eds in the paper, conversations around the water cooler at work, the news media, social media, and other platforms tempt us to voice our opinions, rather than remain silent. Being still is not easy for us in this modern age. It means that we have to stop doing, scrolling, planning, talking, watching, and hashtagging. It means that we cease all activity. It seems unnatural to be still, and there is a tendency to want to fill the silence. To counteract that, we need to be intentional.
Discussion Questions:
- How can we be intentional in finding rest?
- How can silence help us hear God’s voice?”
- What are some ways we can practice silence in our daily lives?