The Importance of Rest
Finding rest in the midst of grief can be difficult. Grieving is exhausting work and we have to make it a priority to rest.
There is a conundrum in that though, because so much must be done that you don’t feel like there is time to rest. What’s more, the grief permeates your mind, heart, and body making it almost impossible to pause, be still, and truly rest.
So how do you truly pause and rest during a season of grief?
The How to of Resting While Grieving
WARNING: This is going to sound cliche. I don’t want it to be. Cliche and pat answers that dismiss the cares and concerns of others sorrows irk me. This is not a dismissal, it is very valuable information so please bear with me.
Go to Jesus. See that pat answer? It simply doesn’t seem to be enough does it? But its true! Take your cares, concerns, fears, pains, responsibilities to HIM. Not your best friend, husband, online, or huge piece of chocolate cake. (All of these have a role, but none will provide true rest.)
Tweet ThisI’m not a platitude person, so I’m going to show you what “going to Jesus” looks like–the ‘How-To’ of it all.
How to Go to Jesus
Worship Music:
Find worship music to listen to. Play it softly while you sit still. Put your phone on airplane mode to help block out the noise. If you can’t find a place where people will leave you alone at home, sit in your car and let the music wash over you. Let God comfort your heart and dress your wounds through the music and stillness. It will refresh your weary heart and mind.
His Word:
Open the bible. I suggest an easy to read translation like the New Living Translation. Begin in the Psalms. (Do NOT start reading Genesis 1:1- you will thank me later)
Notice how David starts many Psalms in utter distress. He wrote most of these during seasons of great sorrow and uncertainty. There is a pattern in the Psalms. He begins by stating how terrible, painful, and overwhelming his circumstances are, but ends with how big, powerful, and amazing God is. This is your model on how to lay your burdens at God’s feet.
Prayer:
Pour your heart out to God like David does in the Psalms. He can handle it. As you lay your troubles, fears, concerns and everything else at His feet, you are giving them to Him. Recognize how BIG and POWERFUL He is and shift your prayers from pouring out your despair to praising God. When you do this, you have laid your burden at His feet. As you praise Him, He replaces the heaviness of everything you just gave Him with His Yoke. Each time the heaviness comes back on you–repeat this process. You will find great renewing and refreshing.
This post is part of a 31 day series on Hope for Grieving Hearts. To see all of the posts in this series, click the button below. Thank you for reading. I hope you are blessed and encouraged.
I don’t think your answer is pat at all. Going to Jesus is the best thing to do in all circumstances. He is a constant source of rest and love. Thank you for sharing your steps. They are very helpful in dealing with grief or any trials that we face.
Thank you. In the midst of deep sorrow, ‘Go to Jesus’ can easily seem like a brush off, especially of the person has never learned how to do that. I’m glad the steps will be helpful.
Showing how that looks – great post.
Thank you
This. Yes! This is almost exactly how I make a conscious decision to rest in where the Lord has me. I turn on some hymns, or Casting Crowns music. I read the Psalms, and often some of “The Valley of Vision” prayer devotional… and then I just pour out my heart in prayer! And then I thank the Lord for giving u such a simple way to draw close to him when our world is falling apart… because honestly he could have made it difficult for us to draw near to him, but he didn’t. Because he loves us. And I praise him for his mercy to me <3.
Blessings in Christ,
Bri from forget-not-his-benefits.blogspot.com
I’m so glad this spoke to you. I was a bit fearful that it may come across as dismissive. Thanks for you dropping by and taking the time to read and comment.