Finding Rest: A Journey to Sacred Pause
Updated: Oct 27
Have you ever felt guilty for resting?
Have you ever sat down because your body was exhausted, but your mind kept running through everything you thought you should be doing?
I know I have.
For much of my life, I believed that being productive meant I was accomplishing something worthwhile. I was a doer, a helper, a caregiver, and someone who was always willing to step in when needed.
But somewhere along the way, I began measuring my days by how much I accomplished.
Rest felt like something I had to earn.
Then life changed in ways I never expected.
When my health began to fail, I could no longer do the things I once did so easily. My body demanded rest, but my heart and mind kept fighting against it.
I was stopping physically, but I wasn't truly resting.
And in that difficult season, God began teaching me something I had overlooked for years.
Rest wasn't something I had to earn. It was a gift He was inviting me to receive.
Understanding the Need for Rest
God never created us to carry endless responsibilities without rest.
Even in the beginning, Scripture shows us the importance of rest. And throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus took time away from the crowds to pray.
Yet somewhere in our busy lives, we began treating rest as something optional.
We tell ourselves, "I'll rest when everything is finished."
But when is everything ever finished?
There's always another responsibility, another phone call, another person needing something, or another task waiting for our attention.
I've learned that rest isn't a reward for finishing everything.
It's part of how God created us to live.
And sometimes the very things we're resisting is exactly what we need. He makes it simple and we always tend to complicate it.
What Sacred Pause Really Means
For years, God kept bringing me back to Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God."
I thought I understood what being still meant.
I wasn't doing this anymore. o wasn't doing that anymore. Surely, I was being still!
But God was patiently teaching me that physical stillness and resting in His presence weren't always the same thing.
My body might have stopped, but my mind was still racing. My heart was still worrying. And my hands were still trying to hold on to everything I couldn't control.
Sacred Pause became a journey of learning to surrender those things to Him.
It's not about emptying our minds or searching for strength within ourselves.
It's about turning our hearts toward Jesus, opening His Word, and trusting Him with what we cannot carry.
Stop striving. Start abiding.
Simple Ways to Make Room for Sacred Pause
A Sacred Pause doesn't require a perfect setting, an elaborate routine, or a special amount of time.
Sometimes the simplest moments become the most meaningful.
Begin Your Day with God
Before researching for your phone or thinking about everything waiting for you, take a moment to acknowledge the Lord.
Perhaps it's whispered prayer: "Lord, thank You for another day. Help me walk through it with You, not ahead of You."
You don't need fancy words.
Just an open heart.
Create a Quiet Place
Maybe it's your favorite chair, a spot beside a window, or a peaceful corner of your home.
Keep your Bible nearby.
Sit with a cup of coffee or tea. Read a passage of Scripture. Talk with the Lord about whatever is weighing on your heart.
And remember, you don't have to create the perfect atmosphere for God to meet you.
He is already nearby.
Lay Down What You're Carrying
Sometimes we don't realize how much we're holding until we're completely exhausted.
Take a moment to ask yourself: "What am I carrying today that I need to place in God's hands?"
It might be concern for someone you love, uncertainty about your health, financial worries, grief, or something you simply cannot change.
You don't have to pretend those burdens aren't real.
Bring them honestly before Jesus.
Enjoy the Beauty of God's Creation
There is something special about sitting beside quiet waters, listening to the birds, watching the sunlight filter through the trees, or noticing a flower beginning to bloom.
Creation reminds us the beauty and care of our Heavenly Father.
And if you aren't physically able to take a walk or spend time outdoors, please don't feel that you've missed something.
Sometimes a peaceful view through a window is enough to remind us of His goodness.
Give Yourself Permission to Rest
This one was especially difficult for me.
When you've spent your life caring for others and being the person, everyone depends on, slowing down can feel uncomfortable.
You may even feel guilty.
But your worth was never determined by how much you could accomplish.
You are loved by God on your busiest days and on the days when all you can manage is getting though the day.
You don't have to prove your worth though productivity. There will be an upcoming podcast to delve deeper into this.
When Rest Feels Difficult
Sometimes rest doesn't come easily.
Our schedules are full. Our responsibilities are real. And sometimes the circumstances of life simply don't allow everything to stop.
Other times, illness, grief, anxiety, or physical exhaustion makes rest feel complicated.
I've learned that resting in God doesn't mean pretending everything is fine.
It doesn't mean our struggles magically disappear.
And it isn't a cure for illness or a substitute for needed medical care.
It means that even when life is uncertain, we can turn toward the One who knows our circumstances and loves us though them.
Sometimes rest looks like sitting quietly with our Bible.
Sometimes it means asking someone for help.
Sometimes it means saying no to something we would normally say yes to.
And sometimes it means acknowledging that we're tired and need to stop.
There's no shame in that.
Rest is Not About Doing More
One of the biggest lessons God has taught me is that even in rest can become something we strive to accomplish.
We can turn it into another list of things we should be doing.
But that's not the invitation Jesus offers.
In Matthew 11:28, Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him for rest.
He doesn't tell us to get everything figured out first.
He simply invites us to come.
What a beautiful reminder.
We don't have to arrive with everything in order.
We can come weary.
We can come hurting.
We can come with unanswered questions.
And we can come just as we are.
A Gentle Invitation
Wherever you find yourself today, I want to encourage you to make room for a Sacred Pause.
Not because you have another task to complete.
Not because you need to become more productive.
But because your heart needs time with the One who created you, knows you, and loves you.
Life will still have its responsibilities. There will be difficult days, unanswered prayers and seasons when the pathway ahead feels uncertain.
But we don't have to walk those pathways replying only on our own strength.
So, wherever you are today, may I gently remind you:
You are allowed to rest.
You are allowed to ask for help.
You are allowed to stop carrying what was never yours to carry alone.
And you are invited to draw near to Jesus.
Stop striving. Start abiding.
With love and heartfelt prayers,
Sonia M. Bennett
Comments