Dear Restless,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

To the heart that hasn’t slept in a while… You probably didn’t mean to stay up this late – emotionally and mentally tossing and turning over in your head. You probably meant to lay down that care hours ago. Maybe even days. But here you are, worn out, burned out, and exhausted from carrying a load you were never designed for.

For me, restlessness most often stems from a lack of progress in the time table that I see fit. God’s promise isn’t coming fast enough. My provision isn’t appearing right away. I’m not at the place I thought I would be by now. These are just a few of the examples that cause sleep deprivation for my soul. Your’s might different, but as I list mine, all your unresolved, unrelinquished worries pop up in your mind.

What I have found to be true in my life is that a lack of rest always originates from a lack of trust. I know, I know, it’s hard to admit. It’s hard to confess that I don’t trust God like I should. Even though He has been nothing but faithful to me since day one. Regardless of my apprehensive heart, God’s grace proves His unfailing love to me once again. Even though He shouldn’t have to. But He always does. Always.

You see, I learned something in my tug-of-war trust issues with God. The problem doesn’t have to be resolved yet for me to rest. Psalm 3:3-6 (MSG), “But you, God shield me on all sides; You ground my feet, you lift my head high; With all my might I shout up to God, His answers thunder from the holy mountain. I stretch myself out. I sleep. Then I’m up again- rested, tall and steady, Fearless before the enemy mobs coming at me from all sides.“

In this passage David is writing and says that he rests in God, sleeps even, only to awaken to enemies still surrounding him on all sides. David went to bed with enemies. David woke up with enemies. But David rested knowing that his enemies were not stronger than God. Rest does not come from all your matters being resolved. Real rest comes from all your matters being entrusted to God.

It is possible to rest before the rescue when you know that God has shielded you on all sides during the attack. Read that again. Say it out loud. Tell your heart, your head, your problem, your worry, and your doubt, that today- you rest. Because if you keep reading David’s story in Psalm, you’ll see that rescue comes. You’ll see that victory is eminent. You’ll see that God proved Himself faithful, once again, like He always will. Even if it’s not on our time clock.

God is good. God is faithful. God is working on your behalf. Right now. Today. Rest in that.

Dear Restless,

God’s got this. Go to bed.

Be blessed!

Jordan Smith