Director's View: Rest

Before becoming a father, I had no idea how much time I’d spend trying to help exhausted babies fall asleep. One July, the night before leaving to go ride in the Agony, I was up until 2 AM with a wide-awake baby daughter. I’ve gone for desperate drives with my little son at 4 AM, knowing the movement of the car could lull him to sleep, but fearing I would fall asleep first! But it isn’t just infants that struggle to get the rest they need. I think we all do.

More than three quarters of full-time workers polled say they are at least somewhat workaholic. Then, the moment we do step away from work, an infinite amount of distraction awaits. Phones are harder and harder to put down, and when we finally do, we rarely feel rested. Each new tool is marketed as enabling us to do more even faster, but somehow they seem to leave us even further from rest.

Babies need a parent rocking them. What do we need? How can my soul rest?

I’ve learned I cannot entertain my way to soul rest. Entertainment can certainly have value, but if entertainment is the goal, soul rest will not result.

I also cannot achieve my way to soul rest. When I’m extra stressed, I tend to work extra hard. Yes, getting work done helps in many ways. I have a fixer-upper house, and when we finished the roof before rain came, I slept better. But the goal cannot be to check enough boxes or control circumstances enough to get soul rest.

Thankfully, Jesus understands our need: “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.” In order to get the soul rest we desperately need, the goal has to be Jesus. “Come to me.”

Many of the young people who arrive at Christian Encounter are exhausted. Life has been a battle. At the Ranch they find structure that encourages rest: regular mealtimes, regular sleep schedules, consistent exercise, minimal screen time, regular times for study, devotion, and worship, etc. All these are good. Many skills and disciplines can help carve out space for rest. But ultimately, true rest must come through an encounter with Christ.

Do you need rest? Do you feel too tired to rest? Rest is not a thing to acquire or a state to achieve or even a spiritual work to accomplish; it is a person to be with.

The goal is not rest; the goal is Jesus. When we choose Jesus, we find rest–and the parent who gently rocks us, comforting us. Pray that every one of us here would choose Jesus above all else!