Resting in Jesus

It was a rainy and cold night when my husband and I left the hospital with our firstborn daughter.

After three grueling days of being bothered every two hours day and night, we were finally going home. We were absolutely exhausted and terrified at the idea of going home with our brand-new baby.

We arrived home and I was so tired. However, I was determined to not take my eyes off of her. I wanted to be there to take care of her every need. This led to sleepless nights for over a week, where my husband and myself took turns staying up all night caring for our daughter’s every need.

​As one could imagine, what we were doing was not sustainable. I found myself nodding off during the day while holding her, getting angry for no reason, and crying because I was extremely tired.

Finally, my mother stepped in on our behalf and stayed up with our daughter while my husband and I slept through the night. I woke up the next day refreshed. It was like I was a new person.

David writes in Psalm 23:2: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.”

Just as my mother could tell how desperately my husband and I needed rest, Jesus sees our stressful, busy lives and yearns to give us rest.

How often do we overextend ourselves, especially as moms? Our days are full of things such as kids’ sports teams, helping with homework, house chores, work, and taking care of our children. We hardly have a moment for ourselves most of the time.

​Resting in God is not just a luxury for when life gets busy and stressful, but a necessity that can renew our weary soul.

Psalm 23:2 shows Jesus leading us to still waters. While my mom initially provided us with the rest we needed, my husband and I eventually balanced taking care of our newborn by alternating the night shift. While Jesus does provide rest for us, we have to be willing to not only accept the rest but to form a habit of taking the time to rest when we need it. Jesus will never force us to rest but instead will gently nudge us to pause and rest.
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There is rest to be found in the stolen minutes of our lives; a quiet prayer, our morning cup of coffee, or even in the car on the way to our next event. We can find comfort and peace only He can provide when we take the time to rest in Him.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” Psalm 23:2

About the Author

Hi my name is Anna Bearden! My husband Jacob and I have been married almost five years and we have a sweet baby girl. We live in metro Atlanta. I am a first time mom navigating the world of motherhood and trying to seek God through it all. Some of my favorite things are spending time with family, friends, eating delicious food, dogs, and Starbucks! My hope is to introduce Christ to moms through sharing my own personal experiences with Him. A recent health diagnosis inspired me to make a blog to encourage others through their struggles as well. You can connect with me at worthwellnessblog.wordpress.com.