Do you ever wonder how you can strengthen your faith walk? The answer comes from a guest post by Hannah Rowen Fry, the author of The Way of Gratitude, who explains how rest can be one of the best ways to strengthen your faith journey.
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“You were made for more.”
This phrase or some variation of it is shared often in creative circles. And it should be! You were made for more. Who you currently are and what you’ve currently done are not the end of you; there is more to your future. More dreaming. More growth. More becoming who God made you to be.
And more rest.
Rest is one of the most important parts of the Christian life when it comes to living according to your God-purpose and being all he has called you to be. However, Sabbath and Sabbatical are among the least practiced spiritual rhythms. What if embracing rest is what enables you to embrace the more? What if rest is part of the purpose God has called you to?
Why should we rest more?
Here’s a brief theology of rest:
- First, rest is woven throughout our faith. Beginning with the Creator’s rest in Genesis 2:2 and the land rest in Leviticus 25:4, rest is carried through the New Testament, where it’s described as a promise in Hebrews 4. There is a clear, consistent narrative throughout Scripture to prioritize rest.
- Second, resting is one way we bear the image of God. In the creation story, we learn that we are made in God’s image and that he rested. It’s no surprise that rest is rejuvenating! Rest makes us more of who we are, of who God made us, because it echoes him. It allows us to feel more like ourselves because it’s one way we bear the image of our Creator.
- Finally, rest rhythms are found in every part of nature. We see rest most prominently in the changing seasons. In the winter, everything slows down a bit; plants become dormant, and the night is longer. Our world no longer relies on sunlight to indicate when to work and when to stop, so it’s easy for us to ignore these natural triggers. But God has instructed us to resist temptation, not the natural rest rhythm he initiated.
How do we rest more?
It sounds like an oxymoron, but it takes work to rest. Whether it’s a weekly Sabbath, a yearly retreat, or a Sabbatical every seven years, our rest must be scheduled.
That’s step one – get it on the calendar! Book a Sabbath day this week or next and protect it like any other meeting, appointment, or vacation you’ve booked.
Next, design what your rest will look like. The spiritual rhythm of rest shouldn’t feel like a lazy day or a sick day. This is intentional rest with God; it’s a joyful time of worship and rejuvenation. A Sabbath day will look different for everyone because this kind of rest is about connecting with your purpose, and each person has a different God-given purpose.
For example, my Sabbath includes sleeping in, reading Scripture and other books, journaling, doing puzzles, going for walks in nature, and eating my favorite foods. I like to be alone or with my husband or close friends on these days. But my husband’s ideal Sabbath involves no one but him and God. He’ll even keep the curtains and blinds closed, turning our home into a cave! Each of us rests in ways aligned with who God made us – our personalities, temperaments, and passions.
Finally, remember that Jesus rested. When we read the gospels and examine the work of Jesus’ ministry, we see he actively pursued rest almost as often as he worked. He didn’t heal, teach, and save without withdrawing from the crowds. Jesus went to the mountain, the wilderness, the garden, and the boat to get away from people and his purpose so he could rest. I wonder if part of his purpose was to rest.
You were made for more. More achieving. More growth. And more rest. I pray your future will be full of holy rest as you become more of who God made you to be.
About the Author
Hannah Rowen Fry is a writer, speaker, and encourager. Her writing consists of observations of daily life and uses daily reflections to guide others to live out their God-given purpose. Hannah’s passion is to help others experience greater joy in the present moment. Hannah lives in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, with her husband Matt and spends most of her free time walking on the beach, frolicking around Disney World, and listening to Taylor Swift. Her latest book is The Way of Gratitude: 21 Devotions of Goodness, Gratitude, and Wonder.
Find her online at:
Her website: https://www.hannahrowenfry.com
Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/hannahrowenfry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannah.rowen
As someone who has experienced the battlefield firsthand, I’ve learned so much about relying on God’s power. While writing my new book, 
Let the Time to Reset Tour Begin!