The Power of Rest: Allowing God to Refresh Our Soul (Psalm 23 & Isaiah 40)
The days of refreshment are here, but we need to recognize our need for them, and the Source of all true refreshment.
Do you nap? I rarely do, but when I think about how restorative naps are for infants and toddlers, it's such a beautiful image of rest. My toddler, bless his heart, has been resisting naps lately, always wanting to play and be around the excitement. Maybe there is a bit of “fear of missing out” here, but you know what? There's a clear difference in her nature when he does nap versus when he doesn't. We don't even need studies to tell us how beneficial naps are for learning, emotional regulation, and memory.
And we're the same! Perhaps it's not an actual nap for us, but it serves as a powerful reminder to rest.
Rest is an invitation—an invitation to pause, to be refreshed. It's about developing a relationship, a posture, and a discipline of talking and walking with God, and resting in Him.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
What a profound image! Pausing. Not just to be recharged, but to be truly refreshed. There's an art in slowing down, in resting, in being honest before the Lord. "Lay down in green pastures"—what a promise of refreshment!
As I shared in last week's YouTube live, I'm in a new season, feeling a bit like a butterfly with new wings. I recognize my weaknesses and my shortcomings, as I learn to recognize even my new self. These wings still feel dull, gaining their vibrancy, and often unseen by others, much like they're still in a cocoon. I don't know how to use them, or even where to go if I did.
Have you experienced times like that? Are you currently walking through a similarly new season of the unknown?
They can be both disorienting and refreshing. God is by our sides, and He has what we need.
In my honesty to God, I was reminded of two invitations, two promises that bring us hope: rest and refreshment.
"Beside the quiet waters" is not a place to run from. In such times, I am reminded to resist the urge to slip back into my cocoon.
We are held, not hidden…
called, not crazy.
It is unfamiliar, but that does not disqualify these new wings.
Surrender with a “Yes Lord” and be ready to receive, a vibrancy and direction that can only come from the One who sees us and provides, Jehovah Jireh.
May we be like that resting butterfly, surrendered and ready to receive a vibrancy and direction that can only come from the Lord.
What an invitation to bask in His grace! Accept it with open hands and hearts
The days of refreshment are here, but we need to recognize our need for them and the Source of all true refreshment.
Lord, we need You.
"Beside the quiet waters" is where we learn to slow down enough to truly see: We lack nothing. There is renewal in the midst of our weakness.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)
What does "renewal in the midst of our weakness" practically mean? What does it look like in our everyday lives?
When we face something we feel powerless in or something that's out of our control, it might sound counterproductive to stop, rest, and be refreshed. How does it all tie in? In the face of our weakness, we may be tempted to fight to prove we're strong. But both Psalm 23 and Isaiah 40 invite us to rest, to be refreshed, and to be renewed.
The Art of a Messy House reflection challenge is this: Rethink your "free time"—can it truly be time to refresh and rest? Slow down for refueling, just like a car stopping for gas.
What does that look like for you today? Invite God into that challenge, conflict, or monumental shift before you. He promises refreshment and rest for the weary.
It's like that butterfly finding new wings. She may not even recognize herself yet. The changes within have begun to show on the outside, but she's not yet comfortably wearing them, or carrying them. Where can she go?
Where can we go for comfort and hope at all times? To our Lord who refreshes our soul beside quiet waters, not in the nearby spinning whirlpools and winds.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake." (Psalm 23:1-3)
Our God lacks nothing. In the face of our lack, we have an opportunity to open our arms, and our wings, and make room to receive from the One who lacks nothing. He is our everything.
So, give yourself permission to pause. Maybe it's not an actual nap, but what does that rest and refinement look like for you today?
Weariness is an opportunity to rest, be refreshed, and be completely honest about where you are. It's permission to hit the brakes and accept God's invitation to be still and truly know. It's profoundly humbling to admit we're not in control, but it's in that very surrender and confession, as we turn to the One who IS in total control, that we tap into His immense power.
"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless." (Isaiah 40:29 NLT). Let that truth resonate: "The Lord gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless!" Admitting our powerlessness and asking for His strength isn't a sign of weakness; it's a powerful act of standing on His Word and walking in the authority we have through Christ.
Our world thrives on exhaustion, constantly pulling us into "cultural whirlpools." And yet, there's a different way. Isaiah 40:31 (NLT) promises, "But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."
Lord, I trust You.
If you're wrestling with unbelief, bring that to Him too: "Lord, I give You my unbelief. Help me with it. Heal me of it. I trust You."
Declare trust, even when it feels hard.
When you face weakness and a perceived lack of power, lean into the One who possesses all power. Our human strength has limits, but God is boundless. He is our hope, our powerful Creator, and He provides us with power, strength, refreshment, and rest. These are not fleeting feelings but divine promises we can exchange our exhaustion for.
Renewal means to exchange. Those who wait on and depend on God will experience this profound exchange – swapping our weakness for His limitless strength. This can happen in the smallest, everyday moments. When you find yourself in a spiral, pause. Surrender and let His strength guide you out, leading you into renewal and refreshment – moving from the exhaustion of striving to the fulfillment of simply being.
Rethink "free time." Can it truly be a time for rest and refueling, like that car stopping for gas? What does that look like for you today?
Maybe it's a peaceful walk during lunch, actually taking your full lunch break, or prioritizing that moment to play basketball with your son even when the laundry calls. While it will look different for all of us, it is about inviting God into every moment, from the challenges to the celebrations, knowing He promises refreshment for the weary.
Like a butterfly finding new, vibrant wings, we can find comfort and hope at all times by turning to our Lord. He refreshes our souls beside quiet waters, far from the chaotic whirlpools and wavering winds. "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul." (Psalm 23:1-3).
Our God lacks nothing. In our moments of perceived lack, we have the incredible opportunity to open our arms and our hearts, making room to receive from the One who is everything.
Dear God, Lord, the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. You do not grow tired or weary, and Your understanding is beyond what we can fathom. We hand you our weariness. Refresh us with your love, power, and strength. You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. Even youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who *hope* in You will have their strength “renewed.” They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31). Revive us. Refresh us. Restore us with Your comfort and hope. The days are coming, and I pray to walk in Your way everlasting. I pray that we walk in Your plans and purposes for each of our lives, and in Your abundance. You are our mighty God and also our gentle Shepherd. Protect us. Lead us to Your refreshment and into Your comfort and hope. Thank You Lord that the days of refreshment are here. You are our hope. You are our source of everything, and You are worthy of all praise. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Be blessed, and always remember you are so loved! ♡
(This full message is available on YouTube. It was posted on 7/3.)
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The Art of a Messy House updates:
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♡ We will be doing the 4th “Practicing the Pause” challenge from July 14 to August 14. Here is the link to download the daily challenges. Feel free to follow along with us on Instagram and YouTube throughout the month as well.
♡ The podcast AT THE TABLE will be on a summer break, but check out the links to part 1 of season 3 below. I would love to hear your thoughts as we continue the conversation with truth in love… AT THE TABLE. ♡ ♡
Episode 93: Introduction to AT THE TABLE
Episode 94: Flourishing (Who is at Our Table - part 1)
Episode 95: Finding and Cultivating Safe Spaces (Who is at Our Table - part 2)
Episode 96: Leading with Curiosity and Love, Not Assumption (Who is at Our Table - part 3)
Episode 97: Entrapped to Entrusted: Real Stories of Faith in Action with Jessica Rogers and Alyson Perez
Episode 98: Why am I Stuck? (Confess, Repent, and Transform)
Episode 99: Walking in the Blessing: Freedom is Our Inheritance with Andrea Brown
Episode 100: Walk in Authority: Unlocking Generational Blessings with Rebekkah Mauney and Jessica Williams
Episode 101: God's Presence & Your Purpose: A Guide to Overcoming Distraction
