TRUE REST
BY KAREN ANGUS (DEPUTY HEAD OF PRIMARY)
Between balancing work, school, extracurricular activities, family commitments and friendships, life can feel like a non-stop conveyor belt. We wear our busyness like a badge of honour, but beneath the surface, many of us are feeling exhausted. It’s easy to look at a calendar packed with commitments and wonder, ‘When do I just get to breathe’? The world tells us that rest is something we must earn, a reward waiting at the end of a busy week, but God offers us a completely different perspective.
In the Bible, rest isn’t a reward for hard work, it’s a gift that fuels us for life. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus extends a beautiful standing invitation to anyone feeling the weight of the world:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29
True biblical rest is deeper than just getting eight hours of sleep. It is a quiet confidence that God is in control, even when our to-do lists are incomplete. When we intentionally stop to rest, we are practicing an act of faith, declaring that the world will keep turning because God is the one holding it all together.
When we choose to pause, we are actively shifting our trust away from our own performance and placing it squarely into God’s hands. Biblical rest isn't about escaping our responsibilities but it is an act of faith that acknowledges God is the one who sustains us. By stepping away from the endless cycle of doing, we allow ourselves to simply be loved by our Creator, finding our worth in who He is rather than what we achieve.
As we approach the upcoming term break, we are given a timely opportunity to put this into practice. This intermission in the school year is more than just a pause from homework and early mornings, it is a dedicated space to rest and reflect. Use this time to look back on the lessons learned over the past weeks, thank God for His faithfulness, and intentionally recharge your spirit.