Finding rest in God is not always an easy task. In fact, it often takes more effort than simply being miserable all on our own.
Being miserable comes naturally. We know how to eat our feelings, complain to our people, numb our pain with Netflix.
What we aren’t naturally good at doing is relying on God. We read verses that say “my burden in light…come to me and I’ll give you rest’ and we aren’t quite sure what to do with it.
How exactly can he lighten our burden and give us rest when we are so exhausted and overwhelmed? How exactly do we find our rest in God?
Lucky for you, it may not be as hard as you think.
3 Steps to Letting God Give you Rest.
Recognize your burden
Often when I’m feeling overwhelmed with life, I’m not quite sure what exactly is causing the feeling. The feeling is just there. So the first step to letting God give you rest is asking him to reveal to you what exactly is burdening you.
Is it a fear about your child’s upcoming school year?
Is it an anger at your spouse that you feel guilty about so you pretend it doesn’t exist?
What exactly is the root cause of your “burden”?
Find Scripture that addresses this issue
Once you know what is stressing you out, do a quick google search and find some scriptures that talk through this issue. I also have a list of scriptures for you to download at the bottom of this post.
After you find 2 or 3 scriptures, try rewriting them in your own words careful to not change the meaning. Rewriting helps make sure you actually understand what the verse means. Then put the verse in a visible place for you to see throughout your day.
Release your burden
Now that you’ve identified your burden and understand what God says about it, it is time to hand it over to God.
I like to physically pretend the burden is in my hands, and I lift it up to God. Using your imagination for times like this is helpful!
But how you release the burden is not as important as you actually taking the time to sit down and give your burden over to God.
You’ll be tempted to simply think about releasing this struggle or simply pray about releasing this struggle. But don’t stop with just thinking and praying. Actually release your struggle into the care of God’s hand. Finding rest in God depends on you truly releasing this struggle and letting God take care of it.
Eventually this will become second nature, but when you first start, plan on repeating step 3 several times a day.
Overall, finding rest in God takes a little bit of retraining and some effort, but it provides relief in a way food and Netflix never can. Take some time today to sit with God, identify your burden, figure out what God says about it, and release your struggle to God. Then enjoy the benefit of God’s provision of rest and peace in your life.
*2 Lessons to Learn about Jealousy and Insecurity
*Learning to Lament Well in a Season of Loss and Uncertainty
*How to Use Christian Meditation to Draw Close to God
The imagination is powerful and I love the way God works through it. Sometimes I imagine myself in a “Special Place” with Jesus. It’s somewhere I choose and design and it changes all the time–sometimes it’s a boat, sometimes it’s around a campfire and sometimes we walk. I ask Jesus questions, like “What is burdening me?” How do I give this to you when it seems impossible? I am often surprised by the little realizations that hit me. It’s not earth-shattering but it helps me keep going. Thanks for your post.
Oh I love that! The imagination can be such a rich and powerful tool for God to use as we learn to trust him!
I really enjoyed this post. The idea of physically lifting up our burdens to the Lord really stuck out to me. I love the thought of just releasing those things that are weighing us down!
Yes! Learning to release them is so freeing!
This was a great post! I love how you break it down into easy steps and I really loved the part about using your imagination. I agree that it helps to visualize handing our burdens to God.
Releasing our burdens is so important but like you said, not always easy to do. I am finding the more I grow to know and trust God, the easier it becomes. Not perfect but striving to trust more and more …
I can identify with having to do number 3 repeatedly at first! Sometimes it is truly hard to let go. But you’re right, the reward is so worth it!
Blessings!
This was such a great post. I really struggle with giving my problems over to God. Thank you for providing some helpful tips we can all put to good use. Blessings, Joni
I struggle too! I have to remind myself all the time!
Finding the root of the burden is so important. These are great steps to let go of your burdens.
What a timely post! We all need these reminders to help us along. Really appreciate it.
Anyone else find they skip step 1 A LOT. Always looking for the peace but not alowling down to think through what is actually disrupting your peace?
These are great tips for letting go and letting God.
All this week I have really felt disconnected and depressed. Not so much overwhelmed, just really feeling out of place. Much of this is due to the type of work I do. Hearing other people’s stories. Listening to what they are struggling with. Having someone to come to and listen and give them guidance and wisdom is taxing. Reading this has enlightened me on what I have not been doing and that is giving my burden and struggles to God.
So practical and helpful! I love the idea of physically lifting up our burden to the Lord in prayer by imagining it in our hands.
I love the very first sentence you wrote. You’re right, sometimes the burden is easier than resting in the Lord. But He is so good and worth the time to rest in His presence. Thank you for sharing this post as we head into a new season.