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In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, "Come to me all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest." We're tired as individuals, as a community, as a nation in more ways than we even understand how to name. We're tired in body, mind, and soul. But as Jesus promised, rest is available to us. We don't have to live in a perpetual state of exhaustion. In this episode, we'll dive deeper into this topic of rest to discover how we can incorporate this necessary and healing practice into our lives.

Questions for Personal or Group Reflection

“What if Christians were known as the countercultural community of the well-rested? People who embrace our limits with zest and even joy?” Tish Harrison Warren, Liturgy of the Ordinary

• Have you ever thought of the practice of rest as a way to trust God more and release control of being responsible for everything?
• Susan shared her story of hitting a wall physically that led her to search for truer and deeper rest. Have you ever experienced anything like that? 
• How do you notice your body telling you that you aren’t resting enough? 
• How have you experienced unrest in your “mind”? (Overthinking, trying to problem-solve and fix-everything, working tirelessly mentally, anxious thoughts, etc…)
• How have you experienced your body reacting when your mind is in a state of unrest?
• Have you ever tried a breathing exercise, breath prayer, relaxation technique, or meditation practice to help you find rest? (You can access practices like these and other resources in Susan’s book, You’re Gonna Be Okay - link below.)

“Without the essential nutrients of rest, wisdom, and delight embedded in the problem-solving process itself, the solution we patch together is likely to be an obstacle to genuine relief… In the soil of the quick fix is the seed of a new problem because our quiet wisdom is unavailable.” Wayne Muller, Sabbath

We said soul rest is not just an individual activity found in “quiet time” with the Lord, but it’s also found when we meet with others and share and process our life experiences together. Do you have a space to do this type of soul work? If not, what would it take for you to find that type of community?

Resources:

Liturgy of the Ordinary, by Tish Harrison Warren

Sabbath: Finding Rest Renewal and Delight in Our Busy Lives, by Wayne Muller

You’re Gonna Be Okay: Truth, Practices, and Encouragement to Give You Hope When You Feel Hopeless, by Rev. Susan Eaton and Stewart Eaton, LPC, CSAT

Thanks for listening to the Embodied Holiness Podcast. We invite you to join the community on Facebook and Instagram @embodiedholiness.

Embodied Holiness is a ministry of Parkway Heights United Methodist Church in Hattiesburg, MS. If you're in the Hattiesburg area and are looking for a church home, we'd love to meet you and welcome you to the family. You can find out more about Parkway Heights at our website.