I have a canvas hanging up in my room right by my bed. It simply says “Let’s go” wrapped around the globe, but it stands as a reminder for me. It fuels the wanderlust instilled in me by my parents’ constant desire to travel and explore. However, on the other side of my bed hangs a wooden sign that says “Be still and know.” Those words, I imagine, are gently whispered across the waters and calmed by God’s might. I feel as if these are the two sides of me that are constantly at war with one another. There is a side that wants to wander and appreciate God’s creation and a side that wants to be still and know his presence. So which side should I listen to? 

Well, my first answer would be both. And that is constantly true, we should do both. But I, like many other people, I presume, would naturally prefer to wander and travel. It is much harder to sit still and find rest. Sometimes being silent and in the presence of God is intimidating, so it is much easier to avoid it for as long as we can. That’s why we travel. And we are busy and we do all the things. 

Right now, I am quarantined at my house with my family, away from all other people. As we look for things to do, I find that I have a lot of time to spend in the word and in silence with God. And to be honest it’s scary sometimes. Sometimes I have to face the truth of reality and repent. Sometimes I am learning something new about God. But I always leave feeling at peace. Because I have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. 

This is why it is important to find rest in God. It is renewing to your Spirit. And no matter what the new craze of self-care is, all you need is yourself and the word of God. The world tells us that we are being unproductive if we are doing nothing. This is a lie. Do nothing with God and feel at peace. Jesus says in Matthew 11: 28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” So come to Jesus and find your rest.