Permission to Rest (R.E.S.T.)
You Are Already Invited
We live in a world that rewards performance. The more productive you are, the more value you seem to have. The busier you are, the more important you feel. Slowing down feels countercultural—almost rebellious. But here’s the truth: God has already given you permission to rest. You don’t have to wait for a crisis, a vacation, or burnout. The invitation is always open.
REST—Release Everything, Surrender Totally—begins with recognizing that your worth isn’t based on how much you accomplish. God doesn’t love a BUSY (Being Under Satan’s Yoke) version of you more. He simply loves you. And He calls you to be still, not to fall behind, but to be filled.
The Afternoon I Crashed (And Learned to Breathe)
I’ll never forget the day my schedule collapsed under its own weight. I had said “yes” to too many things—meetings, volunteer roles, even church tasks. My body ached, my patience was thin, and my spirit felt dry.
Then it happened. A last-minute cancellation gave me a whole free afternoon. My first instinct? Fill it. Clean something. Run errands. Answer emails.
But I sensed the Lord whisper, “You have permission to rest.”
I sat on my porch with tea and a journal. No phone. No pressure. Just presence. I wrote out everything I was holding onto—expectations, responsibilities, self-imposed obligations. One by one, I laid them down in prayer.
For the first time in weeks, I breathed deeply. I felt light. Not because my circumstances changed, but because I stopped trying to control them.
Why Permission to Rest Matters Spiritually
In Mark 6:31, Jesus tells His disciples:
“Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Jesus didn’t scold them for needing a break. He saw their weariness and gave them an answer: Himself. Rest isn’t laziness. It’s alignment.
Permission to rest isn’t about escaping life. It’s about engaging it differently, rooted and anchored in God’s pace, not the world’s.
If you’re not sure where to start, try a weekly planner to block out time to relax. Include some short prayers and reflection questions to help you reserve time for soul care, not just task management.
What Rest Can Look Like
Embracing rest doesn’t require a retreat. It might look like:
- Sitting quietly in your car before walking into the house
- Turning your phone off during dinner
- Listening to worship music while folding laundry
- Blocking 15 minutes to read a Psalm in the morning
These moments might seem small, but they become sacred when surrendered.
You Don’t Have to Prove Anything
God isn’t waiting for you to crash before He offers rest. It’s already yours. Accept the permission He’s extended. Take it. Use it. Walk in it.
You don’t have to keep going just because others are. Permission to rest means letting God define your value—and finding peace in the pause.
