What Kind of Rest?

Focus Statement

Friends, today we are being invited to embrace the rhythm of sacred rest to cultivate vibrant growth,

nurturing your soul’s garden through every season of life.

Point of Relation

Close your eyes for a moment.

Imagine we’re walking together through a garden that changes with each step.

As we begin,

we’re surrounded by the quiet stillness of winter.

The ground is cold beneath our feet,

trees stand bare against the sky.

It is here, in week 1, where we learned the value of dormancy and deep rest.

Pause

A few steps further, and we feel a shift.

The air grows slightly warmer,

and we spot tiny green shoots peeking through the soil.

Buds appear on branches.

This was Week 2, where we balanced the lingering quiet with the first whispers of new growth.

Pause

Now, as we round a corner,

we’re suddenly enveloped in the fullness of spring.

Flowers bloom in vibrant colors, trees are lush with leaves, and the air hums with life.

This is where we stand today, in Week 3, surrounded by growth and activity.

But even here, in this bustling season,

we find pockets of calm -

a bench in a quiet corner,

a still pond reflecting the sky.

These remind us that rest remains vital, even amidst the most active times of growth.

As you open your eyes, consider:

In this season of your life,

where are you creating space for rest?

How can you tend to your own garden, nurturing both growth and renewal?

Things to Consider

Rest isn’t just absence of activity.

Science shows it’s vital for physical and mental health.

Studies reveal proper rest improves memory,

boosts immune function, and reduces stress.

God wove rhythms into creation.

Our bodies have natural circadian rhythms affecting sleep-wake cycles.

True rest involves drawing near to God.

Research suggests meditation and prayer can lower blood pressure and anxiety.

As I’ve mentioned, even Jesus withdrew to quiet places.

Solitude can enhance creativity and problem-solving skills.

Consider:

What season are you in?

Are you allowing for both rest and growth, honoring your body’s and soul’s need for renewal?

What Scripture Says

As spring unfurls its vibrant tapestry,

our scriptures paint a picture of divine rhythm.

In Genesis 2:1-3, we witness creation’s grand finale - not in a burst of activity, but in a holy pause.

God rests, blessing this day and setting it apart as holy.

Here, in creation’s very fabric, rest is woven as an essential thread.

Exodus 20:8-10 echoes this rhythm,

translating cosmic design into human practice.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” -

it’s both command and invitation to step into God’s pattern.

This rest extends beyond the individual, including family, servants, even livestock and sojourners.

It’s a radical inclusivity that elevates rest from luxury to universal right.

In both passages, rest isn’t peripheral but central to God’s design -

the culmination of creation and a cornerstone of the Decalogue (or Ten Commandments).

It’s not just physical necessity,

but spiritual imperative - a way to honor God’s image within us.

As our garden bursts with new growth,

these scriptures remind us:

true flourishing requires both diligent work and sacred rest.

In this balance, we find not just productivity,

but holiness - reflecting the very nature of God.

What This Means for You

Friends, what kind of rest are you cultivating in your personal garden?

Scripture reveals rest as more than inactivity -

it’s a holy pause, a sacred renewal.

Like a garden needs both sun and darkness,

you need purposeful activity and intentional rest.

This divine rest renews body, mind, and spirit.

It’s stepping back to appreciate growth and reconnect with your Creator.

Are you allowing space for this rest?

Or is your garden overgrown with constant activity?

Pause

Remember, even God rested.

It’s not a luxury, but a necessity woven into creation.

As spring unfolds,

how will you embrace this sacred rest and ensure your garden flourishes in sustainable, God-honoring ways?

What This Means for Us

As a church,

we’re called to be a garden of rest in a restless world.

How can we cultivate this sacred pause together?

Pause

Let’s challenge the culture of constant busyness.

Can we create spaces for communal rest and reflection?

Pause

In this season of growth, how might we support each other’s need for renewal?

Perhaps it’s time to prune some activities to make room for restorative practices.

Together, let’s learn to move in step with God’s rhythm of work and rest.

In doing so, we become a community that not only grows, but also rests in 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/.