Rest and Reset: A 30-Day Devotional to Revive JoySample

Give you Rest

Rest isn’t just about relaxing; it’s the cessation of striving and reigniting joy. The mental and spiritual capacity required to live in this age is undeniable. Most people are living a divided life between social media and the real world. In a culture that rewards hustle and large followings, it can be hard to recognize the success of simply being a Christian and leading a holy life that isn’t driven by worldly recognition. Just one glance at your social feed can stir up doubt about your life and future. I believe this is a scheme of Satan to cause believers to strive mentally, which then affects their spiritual well-being.

This striving doesn’t just happen in the social world; it occurs as you navigate life and encounter obstacles. It’s in those moments when circumstances arise and you don’t have an immediate solution. So, you turn inward, reflecting on your thoughts alongside Bible verses, hoping to find a conclusion. Or you rely more on what you want to do based on your feelings rather than making a wise choice.

Once, while grocery shopping, I planned my visit, limiting the items I would pick up to avoid using a shopping cart on the way out. I always felt bad for the cart workers because they seemed to work frustratingly hard to bring the carts back into the store. That day, I went beyond my limit, grabbing several heavy items. As I parked the cart inside the store, I felt a subtle urge to keep it, but I thought, "No, I will walk faster to the car." I immediately realized it was a mistake, and it became even clearer when I hurt myself. Sitting in the car with tears in my eyes, the thought entered my mind: “The workers are paid to work, and the carts are built to hold your bags. Trust the systems the store has in place.” I will never forget this moment, as it showed me that sometimes I tend to make emotional decisions that can hurt me, instead of letting go of the baggage I pick up.

Jesus has promised to bear our load and give us rest once we surrender to Him. Why is it that sometimes, circumstances feel safer in the hamster wheel of our mind than in entrusting them to God’s hands? I believe we feel as though, if we can hold onto it, we can prevent the situation from worsening.

Jesus invites us into a holy rest that provides space to thrive and grow, free from the burden of mental, physical, and spiritual exhaustion caused by striving. He beckons us in Matthew 11:28 to come to me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. This invitation is for everyone who believes they must carry the burdens of life mentally and emotionally. Jesus is stating that these loads are weighing you down and stealing your joy. So, he says, I want to exchange the heaviness for rest. Then he goes on to instruct us on what we should be carrying, which is His yoke as we learn of Him.

Social media is a helpful tool, but it becomes destructive when we fail to balance God’s purpose for our lives with the digital world of escapism. Holding groceries can assist workers when we have light items. However, choosing to live within the limits of mental effort due to fear and worry is never acceptable.

I encourage you to embrace the rest that the Lord has prepared for your soul. Let go of the burdens from your past, present, and future fears that lead you down the weary path. The Lord loves you, and His desire for you is to cease from striving and be revived in His joy. Rest in the finished work of the cross and release the anxiety tied to the cares of this world.

Be encouraged.