Mindful Rest

“As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works.” (Hebrews 4:10 TPT)

Amaryllis bulbs go through periods of dormancy between blooms. Fertilizing a bulb when it should be resting can be harmful to the plant. Stimulating new growth during hibernation leads to pale, limp leaves and an exhausted bulb. But you can’t completely neglect an amaryllis when it is  between blooming periods. The long leaves soak up as much energy as they can from sunlight before they return to dormancy. 

Whether we acknowledge it or not, each of us has phases of growth and dormancy. Rest is vital for both our bodies and minds. While it may be fun to pursue stimulating amusements during our downtime, this is not revitalizing. We must learn to distinguish between behaviors that drain us and practices that recharge us. Signs of unrest include continual striving, disruption, commotion, and volatility. 

As we enter into God’s faith-rest life, we cease from our own works. We let go of our desire for self-sufficiency. We recognize that busyness and restlessness are not always productive. We quit defining ourselves by our blooms of achievements. Divine rest is tranquil and rejuvenating. We are saturated in forgiveness, acceptance, and grace. We learn to absorb God’s light, soaking up as much energy as we can. Meanwhile, our roots reach deep into our consciousness, resting in communion with our Spirit.