Rest: Finding My (Off)Beat
by Mike Killebrew
A few years ago, I purchased some ballroom dancing lessons as a gift for my wife. I’d heard her mention that she’d enjoy learning it together, so I bought a 5-lesson package. Happy Anniversary to us!
We showed up to the first lesson and had a blast learning some basic steps. However, by about halfway into our second lesson we had confirmation that ballroom dancing was not going to be my next hobby. I became acutely aware of what I had long suspected. I don’t have rhythm—at least not the kind that helps on a ballroom dance floor. Then on lesson three they tried to high pressure sell me on more sessions. I was done in more ways than one.
In this month’s BeEncouraged we’re exploring the Rhythm of Rest in the context of our larger theme for the year of Living Like Jesus. I’m grateful that we added the descriptive word of “rhythm” because of its definition: “a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.” After seeing the combination of Rhythm and Rest for this blog topic, it causes me to ask: Do I have a strong, regular, repeated pattern of rest?
Our culture has an insatiable appetite for chasing busyness, efficiency, and accomplishment. Most of us carry an endless to-do list of people to see, places to go, and things to do. Often, we do all of this without the well-timed, rhythmic moments of rest that God commands us to take.
We need to do some self-assessment. In Mark 12:30, Jesus tells us to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” As we consider this most important command from Jesus, it’s a great reminder to self-assess. Are we doing our very best to love the Lord through our emotions (heart), our intellect (mind), our spirituality (soul), and our physical health (strength)?
Perhaps during some self-evaluation, we identify that we are not well rested, affecting our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Perhaps you are tired, burnt out, or realizing that there must be a better way. A quick search will give you all kinds of self-help ideas on how to navigate a busy life with endless ways to better organize and manage the schedules that we all keep. We’ve all seen, read, and implemented some of those ideas. While some of them may be beneficial, I would suggest that God’s Word points us to something simpler and deeper.
Rest isn’t Laziness, but Obedience
In Genesis 1-2 we see that God blessed three things. God blessed the animals that he created in Gen 1:22. He then blessed the humans he created in Gen 1:28. Then in Gen 2:2 “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating all that He had done.” God created a way for us to have well-timed, rhythmic days of rest, calling it the Sabbath. God takes it seriously and he expects us to do the same.
And yet, we often ignore it – myself included.
In Exodus 20:8-11 God makes it clear to His people that they are to take a Sabbath. In a list of 10 commands, God uses more words on this Sabbath command than any of the other nine on the list. God is serious about this command!
Jesus, Savior of the world, rested. Why don’t we? Jesus withdrew from the crowds in Luke 5:16, He took time to pray in solitude in Mark 1:35. He encouraged rest for His disciples in Mark 6:31. We see Jesus demonstrating strong, regular patterns of rest. During His ministry demands, Jesus prioritized rhythms of rest and retreat.
Here’s a practical challenge. Intentionally practice rest this week—not just downtime with mindless scrolling or watching TV or being entertained but rhythmic rest: unplugging, prayer, reflection, and worship.
Stop – Choose one day or time to cease from work or productivity.
Refocus – Use some of that time to pray, journal, read Scripture or be outside in creation.
Delight – Do something that brings joy and simply reminds you of God’s goodness: a walk, a good meal, a deep conversation, or simply silence.
Like most who are reading BeEncouraged, I want the experience that comes with living out what Jesus commanded us in Mark 12:30. As I self-assess, it is clear to me that I need to keep a sustainable life pace that includes some well-timed, strong, regular, repeated patterns of rest. I need to practice Rhythmic Rest better, and I can’t think of better way than to reorder my week. Will you join me in taking rest seriously?
