**Sip Saturday is written by our Saturday morning contributor, M.H. Elrich. A beautifully gifted Christian author who seeks to honor the Trinity in her writing. She hopes that her words will encourage women to draw closer to God, whether that is through her fantasy series or her weekly devotionals.
Cornerstone Scripture:
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
-Hebrews 4:9 KJV
Most of us, when we see the definition for “rest,” think that it refers to sleeping in bed. This is one definition of rest, but another would be “peace of mind or spirit” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Sleep is important, and numerous studies have shown how sleep restores the mind and body. Insomnia often results in psychiatric disorders and muscle deterioration. Yet, as anyone who has tried to sleep and not been able to know, one’s peace of mind is key to a good night’s rest as well.
As most of you who have been following this study know, I recently struggled with bouts of insomnia. The root of that sleeplessness was my own mental health. Because of my anxiety, I would wake up with my heart pounding or worries running through my mind. I was unable to experience physical rest or emotional rest.
That is why I went to see a counselor. Some may see this act as a sign or weakness, and I would say “yes, it is.” It was admitting that I can’t do this alone and that I needed help to address the deeper issues that make it so that I cannot rest. Going to a counselor is not something to be ashamed of–it is something that should be done when you realize you need more.
Part of what my counselor did was help me to see that “peace of mind and spirit” can only come from God. In establishing my nightly routine, she emphasized reading Scripture, praying, and listening to encouraging songs before bed. She told me that surrendering my worries to God through journaling or even drawing were ways in which to experience that. Emotions, which I always perceived as negative things, are part of the way God made women. We should let them flow through us and surrender them to God.
True rest, Godly rest, can only come from him. Pills, vitamins, and other band-aids can only do so much. Certainly, sleeplessness can be from an imbalance of a certain hormone or vitamin. But our inward rest, the “peace that surpasses all understanding,” can only come from God (Philippians 4:7).
The author of Hebrews wanted to show the audience that the Promised Land and all its blessings was not the end of God’s rest, nor the extent of it. The Israelites thought that retaking Israel and becoming a flourishing physical kingdom was the Messiah’s purpose. In a way, they were only thinking about the physical rest of God’s people. They were not considering the deeper, more long reaching purpose of the Messiah: to establish a spiritual kingdom built on the spiritual rest available to all who follow Jesus. Their savior had not come to conquer the Romans, but to conquer sin and death once and for all. One day, he will return and establish a new, everlasting kingdom.
Until that time, we have a deeper rest through the indwelling Holy Spirit. To access it, we must surrender our worries and anxieties to the Lord through prayer.
Let’s Pray.
Dear Lord, I surrender ______ to you. I believe you will take care of ________ and trust you to do so. I ask you to give me your deeper rest. In Your Son’s Name, Amen.
P.S. I am the author of these books, and they are available in all formats: paperback, ebook, and audiobook! Thank you for your weekly support of Sip Saturday.
Kudos to you for going to a counselor. It is so helpful to talk things through and get perspective. I have struggled with insomnia and it's a bear. Regular routines, sometimes taking a bath with lavender Epsom salts, and writing down ideas or to-dos prevents them from rattling around in my head.
Yes, it's good to have curiosity about our emotions. I've heard it said our bodies have 'smoke alarms' and these are there to help evaluate what needs attention. God can bring clarity.