How to Find Rest in Jesus-The Kind that Lasts

Confusing Comfort for Rest 

I'm guessing I'm not alone in wanting to rest after a long day, a long week, or even a long, stressful season.

Bubble baths, spa days, and time spent on our couch can be relaxing, but worldly things can't refresh and renew you in a way that lasts longer than the moment you’re currently in.

When I’m stressed, I can’t wait to get home, put on some comfy sweatpants and socks, and tuck myself under a warm fuzzy blanket. Yes, even in the summer!

My trying to rest takes the form of feeling cozy at home. But cozy doesn’t translate into being at ease with your current circumstances. It doesn’t provide the kind of rest that fills you with peace and can sustain you.

I believe that kind of rest can only be found in Jesus.

Rest in Jesus

If we’re clinging to earthly comforts, we can’t be clinging to Jesus. And I believe Jesus is where we’ll find our true rest. A rest that doesn’t run out.

This idea of a rest that doesn't run out reminds me of the Bible story that speaks of a water that will never run out.

A Samaritan woman is at a well, and Jesus asks her for water. She mentions that He doesn’t even have something to put the water in. So she questions how she can give Him any.

He then tells her if she knew the gift of God and who it was that asked her for a drink, she would've asked Him, and He would've given her living water. 

And so this woman asks what living water is. And He tells her that whoever drinks the water He gives them will never thirst again. 

Like the woman in the Bible, I believe Jesus desires to provide for our every need. And I think one of our needs is rest. And not just a rest that we’ll receive after we leave this life. I think He wants us to experience that rest in the here and now.

Jesus came down and shared truth, so we could find peace, love, and rest in Him. I love the reassurance found in John 14:27-

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Jesus gives us the beautiful, loving gift of peace. His peace makes way for rest in our life. 

So how can we accept his gracious and loving gift of true rest? I think the answer is found in closeness and surrender.

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Draw Near to Find Rest in Jesus

True rest isn’t found in our circumstances. It’s not based on what we have, what's going well for us, or even in what we’re doing. If you have rest from Jesus, you can still feel it in your most difficult, trying times.

 

When we draw near to Jesus instead of clinging to blankets, ice cream, or whatever it is that we seek when we’re stressed out, I think we’ll feel His peace wash over us—allowing us to rest from all the worries of our day.

His rest isn't fleeing; it's not something we earn. It's simply a gift from God given out of His love for us. 

In addition to drawing near to Him, I believe we need to surrender to Him.

Total Surrender is Where I Find Rest in Jesus

You can’t surrender halfway. But oh, how I have tried!

I believe you must get comfortable surrendering to Jesus if you want true rest. To be clear, I don't think this is an easy thing to do. I tend to want to control all the outcomes of my life. 

But Scripture reminds me I’m not the one in control. Luckily Scripture also reminds me that Jesus loves us and wants what’s best for us. 

So surrender to Him. 

Surrender it all to Him. 

Trust Jesus with the outcomes.

Surrendering doesn't mean you're not actively working in your life, but you find peace in accepting that Jesus is the only one in control.

Total surrender comes from letting go of your version of how things should look. It comes from knowing Jesus has a plan for everything in our lives. Even if His plans don’t align with what we hope for.

Total surrender comes when you trust in Jesus more than you trust in your own ability.

3 Ways to Live a Life Finding Rest in Jesus

You’re probably a little skeptical. I was. You might think this sounds good in theory, and all you have to do is trust God and surrender your life to Jesus, and you’ll find rest.

But trusting isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s not something we can fake. Total surrender doesn't just happen. But there are some things that you can do to start building a solid foundation of trusting Jesus in all circumstances. And I think these practices help get you to a place where you can totally surrender. And in doing so will find the source of your rest is Jesus.

Three things have helped me learn to let go and completely surrender to Jesus. 

• Building a Friendship with Jesus
• Staying in Scripture Each Day
• Journaling My WOW Moments

Before I go into detail on the steps I use, it’s important I note that surrendering doesn’t mean you stop working in your life. You’re still actively working on things, but instead of doing it at your own strength, you are inviting God in to help and guide you. And that’s when I think we find the rest we crave.

Building a Friendship with Jesus Helps Me Find Rest in Jesus

It’s just like building a friendship with anyone. You start by having a conversation with Jesus. It doesn’t have to be a formal prayer. You can just speak what’s on your mind. Talk to Him like you would talk to a good friend. As time passes, you’ll start talking to Him more and more. You’ll begin to invite Him into different areas of your life. I believe He wants to help us but doesn't want to force us to do anything. It's an active choice to invite Him into what we're doing.

When I started inviting Jesus into my job, my parenting, and my marriage, it was then that I began to see things truly change. I started finding peace, clarity, and calmness in my day. You can read more about building a friendship with Jesus here. 

Staying in Scripture Each Day Helps Me Find Rest in Jesus

Scripture is a way to connect with God and see who He is. It’s where we learn about His character and what He’s capable of. Scripture gives us direction, hope, and purpose. And all of those things make it easier to surrender to Jesus so that we may find rest. 

There are Lots of Ways to Read Scripture

• Daily Devotionals
• Picking a Chapter in the Bible to Read
• Bible Studies at Your Church or Online

If you’re not sure where to start, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you on how to stay in Scripture each day. You can learn more about the benefits of Scripture here. 

Journaling Your WOW Moments

WOW moments are those times when God has done something specific in your life, and there's no doubt that it came because of Him. Some people call them God winks, others affirmations. I like to call them WOW; it stands for Witness of Wonder. You can read more about them here.  

I suggest keeping a journal with just your WOW moments in them. Then, when you feel like your prayers are going unanswered, or you feel overwhelmed, you can go back to your journal and read about all the times God was working in your life. You’ll find comfort in knowing that God was there for you then and feel encouraged that He is with you now. 

How I Find Spiritual Rest

Those three things have helped me surrender to Jesus and accept the rest He willingly gives me. Doing those practices has put my mind at ease and helped me grow closer to Jesus. I’ve learned that He's eager to take on my burdens so that I can find rest. And I think He wants to do the same for you.

I created a spiritual journal template to keep me rooted in my faith. There’s a spot for who to pray for, what to give thanks for, a Scripture verse with a journal prompt, and a few other things. There’s a different page for each day. And it’s designed to be done over 40 days. Just sign up below.