For the music leader. According to Jeduthun. A psalm of David.
62 Only in God do I find rest;
my salvation comes from him.
Reflection
Commentaries say that in Psalm 62 David is expressing his trust in God and his anticipation of deliverance from his enemies. He waits and rests in God, relying on God’s power and control instead of his own abilities or the strength of his allies. True rest, God’s rest, is a state of mind or a physical space where God rules and manages God’s creation, free from chaos and disorder. It is a safe place, a nourishing space. I imagine David “finding his rest in God” gazing into the starry night or finding safety resting in a cave. I envision him doing some meditative breathing while he had a conversation with God about the mess he had gotten into. I suspect that finding rest is an age-old challenge for human beings.
As a parent of three adult children my first thoughts about “finding rest” took me back to that first few months of life with a newborn. Those early days of midnight feedings, praying for a few hours of sleep and rest before the baby demands to be changed and fed again. Those nights often extended into rocking and singing, praying we would both get some rest. I often
thought I would never think clearly again if I could not find some rest. I remember times when I woke my husband with tears streaming down my face. I would fall into my side of the bed so hard that he still remembers vividly awakening in mid-air.
It is important to realize, however, technically REST is different than SLEEP. When you sleep you are unconscious and when you rest you are conscious and can interact with the world around you. It involves your whole being, not just your body. Feeling mentally foggy and physically sluggish is all too familiar for new parents and others with super busy lifestyles. As adults we worry about feeling and being productive, but those accomplishments may come at the expense of our health, and especially our spiritual health. Some of the ways I find helpful to relax are: Take a time out. Do some chair exercises or yoga. Take a short walk. Read. Listen to music. Step away from whatever has you feeling stressed. Do some deep breathing exercises and meditate for even a few minutes. It may not feel like resting but LAUGH!
Finding rest in retirement has given me the opportunity to hone my resting skills and to discover new ones. Take heart, friends, and take time to rest no matter what phase of life you are in.
by Kathleen Stolz
For Pondering and Prayer
What are some of the ways you find rest? I love to walk. Sometimes I listen to music. Other times I listen to the sounds around me, whether it’s kids going to school, the high school band rehearsing, or the sounds of nature on a quiet Sunday morning. God and I have wonderful conversations, and sometimes we just rest together in silence. Even Jesus took time away to rest. Make time to rest in the peace of God.
Prayer: Gracious and Loving Lord, thank you for the world we live in. Thank you for the creative energy and talents you have given to each of us. May we find ways to use those gifts to help your world become more loving and kind. And when the world gives us more than we can handle remind us to rest. Remind us to take a few moments, a few hours, or a few days to rest. Amen
