The Sacred Gift of Rest

There is something sacred about rest.

Not just the kind that closes your eyes, but the kind that settles your soul.
The kind that whispers, “You’re safe here.”
The kind that anchors you in truth: you are held, known, and fiercely loved by your Creator.

The other afternoon, I watched my daughter sitting in the sunlight, her little dog curled up in her lap. Their breathing matched: slow, deep, and content. And in that moment, I thought of this promise:

“But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is no adversary or disaster.” – 1 Kings 5:4

This is the kind of rest I long to pass on to her.
A heart anchored in peace.
A life not free from trouble, but full of trust in the One who holds us.

The truth is, rest doesn’t just happen. The world will always demand more, push harder, and tell us that stillness is wasted time. But God’s rest is not passive. It is an intentional return to Him. It’s choosing to lay down our striving and let Him be the keeper of our hearts.

For our daughters, rest becomes a lesson they learn by watching us. They see whether we run on empty or move with the rhythm of His grace. They notice whether we fill our days with endless noise or make space for quiet moments with Him.

My Prayer

My prayer is that our daughters will grow up recognizing His rest – not only in the obvious stillness, but in the small moments that carry eternal weight:
* In the warmth of a hug after a long day.
* In the laughter that bubbles up when you least expect it.
* In the peace that comes from knowing you’re fully known and fully loved.

Mama, let’s model for them what it looks like to find rest in Jesus, no matter the circumstances. May they see us pausing, breathing, and trusting Him in both the storms and the sunshine.

Because when we show them how to rest in Him, we’re really showing them how to live.