Release Into Rest
SEASON OF REST • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Focus Statement
Focus Statement
God invites us to release into rest,
nurturing our souls
as a winter garden prepares for spring’s renewal.
Point of Relation
Point of Relation
In the depths of the pandemic,
I found myself like Elijah under the broom tree,
utterly spent.
While some saw an extended vacation,
reality painted a different picture.
My days blurred into nights,
an endless cycle of work that left me teetering on the edge of burnout.
Ask my wife and daughters -
they’ll tell you of the late-night recordings,
the constant demands that invaded our home.
By the pandemic’s end, I stood in a dark place,
my spirit as weary as winter-bare branches.
But in that darkness, faith became my lifeline.
God’s whisper, barely audible above the chaos,
reminded me of a truth I’d long forgotten:
I had the power to rest.
It wasn’t a luxury, but a necessity -
as vital as water to parched soil.
Learning to rest meant learning to say no,
to push aside the non-urgent, to prioritize my well-being.
Now, I respond immediately to true emergencies.
For everything else, I work until I need a break, then I take that break.
The work can wait. It’s not worth withering over.
In embracing rest, I found renewal.
Like the first green shoots of spring,
hope and energy returned.
Where would we be without our faith to guide us through such seasons?
Things to Consider
Things to Consider
Let’s consider some things, my dear friends.
Rest isn’t idleness.
It’s surrendering to God’s presence.
God wove rest into creation’s rhythm.
Our bodies need it,
yet we often ignore this need.
Rest renews body,
mind,
and spirit.
It’s our anchor in life’s storms.
True rest draws us near to God,
creating space to listen.
Even Jesus withdrew to rest.
How much more do we need it?
What Scripture Says
What Scripture Says
Now, in our Scripture reading today…
In the wilderness, Elijah collapses, a man undone.
His spirit, once ablaze with zeal, now flickers faintly.
“I have had enough, Lord,” he whispers, words heavy with despair.
Yet in this desolate scene, God’s grace unfolds like a gentle revelation.
No thunderous rebuke descends.
Instead, God’s provision arrives, tender as a caress.
A cake baked on hot coals. A jar of water.
The gift of untroubled sleep.
Simple offerings, yet as vital as breath itself.
Twice the angel’s touch rouses Elijah, a soft awakening.
“Get up and eat,” comes the whispered command,
“for the journey is too much for you.”
Here, in these words,
we glimpse God’s heart - understanding our frailty, honoring our need for rest.
Strengthened by this divine care, Elijah journeys on.
To Horeb he comes, God’s holy mountain.
In a cave’s embrace, he waits.
Not in howling gale, not in earth’s trembling,
not in consuming fire does God appear.
But in the hush that follows, a still, small voice speaks.
“What are you doing here, Elijah?” God asks,
not in judgment, but in invitation.
Elijah’s fears and doubts pour forth,
a torrent long held back.
God listens, patient as eternity.
Then, with tender strength,
offers a new purpose, a
reminder that even in bleakest moments,
hope persists.
Here we witness the God who tends both body and soul,
who knows our need for physical rest and spiritual renewal.
The God who meets us in our deepest despair
and gently nurtures us back to life.
What This Means for You
What This Means for You
Where are you in Elijah’s journey?
Running? Collapsed? Listening?
God sees you,
knows your struggles,
and invites you to rest.
What’s your rest look like?
Nature?
Friends?
Prayer?
Embrace it as God’s gift.
In stillness, listen.
God often whispers, renewing unproductive ground.
Elijah needed rest.
So do you.
It’s not weakness, but wisdom.
So, dear beloved, REST.
Find renewal in God’s presence.
What This Means for Us
What This Means for Us
As a church, we’re called to be a garden of rest and renewal.
A sanctuary for the weary, an oasis for the overwhelmed.
How can we cultivate spaces of true rest in our community?
Let’s challenge the culture of constant productivity.
Instead, let’s nurture a rhythm of rest and growth, honoring God’s design.
Let’s encourage each other to listen for God’s whisper,
to accept God’s invitation to rest.
In a world demanding more,
let’s be a people who know how to release into God’s rest.
For in that rest, we find not just renewal,
but God’s presence. Amen? Amen.
Written by Rev. Todd R. Lattig with the assistance of Perplexity AI, based on a series developed by GNJUMC’s Breakthrough: https://breakthroughseries.org/.