Have you ever sensed you needed a time of rest? Or maybe you just needed to reset? These past couple of weeks have been a time to clear my calendar and simply rest. No rushing. No appointments. Just rest and a time of reflection.

I truly believe when we take time to rest whether it’s two weeks, a day, or even for just a moment, He honors that time. We see more clearly. We hear more earnestly. We choose more wisely.

I am on the go too much sometimes. Maybe you find yourself on the go, too. I know that about myself and while I know my limits, sometimes I go past my limits. The thing is, I like to be on the go so when I decided to purposely keep my calendar free for two weeks, I wasn’t sure how I would do.

This time of rest with no “dots” on my calendar app was exactly what I needed. It’s been a time to reset. To reset my heart. To rest my mind. To replace dots on my calendar with moments to simply rest rather than rush.

What does rest look like for you? Maybe it means clearing your calendar for a week. Or saying no even if it is a good opportunity. Maybe it means getting a babysitter so you can take a drive to the mountains, just you and Jesus.

Rest can look different for us but it’s so needed to be fruitful. We need those moments of deep rest so that we can be prepared for the new fruit that will come and for new growth. Fruit in the natural doesn’t produce all year long. Rest is a part of the growing process. We, too, need rest in the process. There is new fruit to come but we must rest. Dwell in the rich soil of His love.

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.​”

Deuteronomy 33:12

Here is what my heart was awakened to during this time of rest –

The Father listens. He listens to the cries of your heart. He listens to your dreams no matter how unreachable you think they are. He listens to your confessions. He listens to you laugh. He listens as you try to walk through healing of past wounds. He cares so much and always invites us to rest between His shoulders.

He also speaks. My heart is overwhelmed how He speaks in the quiet place. We talked about my dreams and He gave me guidance. We talked about memories and He encouraged me. We talked about hurts and He helped me through them. We talked about His goodness and His joy filled my soul. Jesus is our forever friend who listens and talks with us as we rest with Him.

Whatever rest looks like for you, I hope you can find those special quiet moments to dwell in His love and just rest.