Rest Taken Seriously

Rest is something, we as North Americans don't take seriously- or at least in my Minnesotan/northern culture, we don't.  Work, obligations, expectations go in front of everything.  But where's the line when it becomes an idol?  That's where rest comes into play.  

We need to take care of ourselves even if it means not meeting an expectation of someone or something.  We are always going to be demanded for this, that, and the other thing.  There has to be a line drawn!  We can't listen to our inner-being when we are constantly doing one thing after another. We can't listen to what God is trying to tell us when our thoughts are somewhere else.  When Jesus called us,  he called us to be all in or not at all.  He said to "take up your cross and follow me." He didn't call us to be half hearted or only when we feel like it. If we want answers, if we want direction, we have to be all in. But with that, comes rest. God didn't create the Sabbath for nothing. He wants to be with us all the time!! 
Repetition is something that flows throughout the Bible that symbolizes extreme importance.  Recently, I experienced three times where, Emmanuel (God with us) was talked about, Ishmael (God hears), and Lazarus was talked about(God is my help). (Look up those stories if you aren't familiar.)
God sees us, hears us, and helps us...He is always with us and offers us rest.  In the story of Jesus resurrecting Lazarus, "Jesus wept;" he felt the pain of Lazarus' sisters but also, he felt the pain and heartache of what would happen after he brought Lazarus back to life.  This was a climactic point in the history of Jesus because this event brought great attention to officials in that his actions would eventually determine that Jesus would soon be put to death.  Yet, Jesus loves us so much that he sacrificed himself everyday for us and ultimately through death on the cross.  Each of these stories that I read and learned about along with the sweet taste of nature brought rest to my soul. 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" ( Matthew 11:28). 
We all experience rest in different ways, but listen to yourself, take care of yourself and let God take care of your soul.