Winter Rest

This month, the first month, the Lord is saying: Rest.

Work, yes. Be diligent, yes. But rest.

There’s a time to do, and to do well. But don’t forget to be. Rest replenishes, restores, prepares.

In winter, nature rests. Bears and frogs hibernate. Pond koi and goldfish sleep. Seeds wait and soften, trees reserve their strength. And snowfall rests gently over all of it, its hush filling the air with peace.

So, too, can we rest with God’s rest: Rest that waits on the Lord to renew strength, rest that dwells in the secret place of refuge, rest that carries the lighter load in partnership with Jesus.

And rest that takes time for the one thing most required: gazing upon His face, bowing in His presence under the weight of His love.

For this one thing, says Pastor Josh Henry, is the solution to everything else.

For Further Contemplation

“In winter, it is common for people to say everything is dead. On the contrary, those bare trees and shrubs are doing what we should all do. They are shifting their focus from their outer being to their inner being. All their energy is going back into the dark warmth of the deep soil where their roots can rejuvenate, renewing themselves for another season of productivity.” –Writer Beth Bruno

“For this is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength… “ (Isaiah 30:15, NIV).

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” –Jesus (John 15:5, NIV)

“If you want to rest on the seventh day, you must have dominion over the other six.” –Pastor Paul Bergin

Reference (seeds soften): Winter is Nature’s Time to Rest

3 Responses to “ “Winter Rest”

  1. Suz says:

    Makes sense! 👍

  2. hugh says:

    in regards to that final quote, I wonder if a rephrasing of it would also be true – ” If you want to have dominion over six days of the week, you must rest on the seventh”

    • Joanne says:

      Hi Hugh, yes, that does make sense! I like it. There was some context around the original quote that I didn’t provide, which may have added to its meaning.

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