You might not feel like you need rest, but God wants it for you. You might not feel like you can rest, but your family needs it from you. In Bible times, it was a big sacrifice for a family to go to Jerusalem to worship at one of their annual festivals. It took days or even weeks of traveling – often on foot – and that meant time away from the work upon which their livelihoods depended. The average workaholic would not have had a hard time talking themselves out of that. Maybe that is why God gave them psalms to sing themselves into it.
The Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134) were sang by Jewish pilgrims going up to Jerusalem to worship. If you found yourself second guessing bringing your family to worship because of how much you had to do, singing Psalm 127 by Israel’s wise King Solomon would refocus you:
“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved sleep.
“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate” (Ps. 127:1-5).
Stopping to worship does not take away from your work: it gives meaning to it. We need God’s full involvement in every aspect of our lives or else they become empty – and not just for ourselves. If you are a parent, your children are a blessing from God. If you truly love them, the most important place you can ever bring them is to Him. More important than any grades they get or teams they make or incomes they earn is their relationship with God.
For that to happen, you need to lead them to Him. Your family needs to hear your voice praying, reading Scripture, and even singing praise. They need to see your example of prioritizing worship. They need you to give them the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. So, take that time to rest and to worship. Whether you admit it or not, you need it – and your family needs you.
Are you tired? Learn from Jesus how to rest, and you will be restored. This is your invitation to find Rest and Restoration.