Rest As An Act of Trust

Rest: It is not just a posture, it’s praxis.

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”( ESV, Mark 9:24).

Burrowing under the covers, this verse is all I have to offer. It has been a long day, and I am out of words. So, a nap it is. No more prayers—just the intention to rest, offered up as an act of flawed but sincere trust. And today, that is sufficient.

It is not just a posture, it is praxis; a practice of God’s promised peace.

To rest our bodies is a gentle act of supplication in which wordless groanings are heard. In the absence of hustle, there is no need to qualify or perform; we simply show up.

To “placidly close the eyes of the soul”1 as an act of trust is one of spiritual and emotional attunement. Whether burritoed in a blanket by the fire or rocking in a glider, both are postures of a quieted body and heart. It is an embodied practice in which Christ gently bears witness to our humanness and holds us fast.

Rest as an act of trust is our protest against the modern grind; in stillness, we make space for Christ’s nearness.

Jesus exchanges our yoke for his— and stays with us. Yes, our doubts, questions, and tears will be waiting on the other side of repose, but the active pursuit of rest nourishes our faith.

And once we have rested, we can rise. Revived, hopes and expectations are recalibrated. The course-correction of God’s refreshment offers us a renewed body and a fresh perspective.

Rest as an act of trust is not one of complacency or stasis. In casting our cares, we are choosing to flop wearily into our beds- and embody hope. So today, I choose to nap. I will close my eyes and offer up my dreams and fears to God, the ultimate dream maker.