What Does It Mean to “REST”?

Notes by Alex – by Alex Atkinson

“The Quiet Invitation to Rest”
Finding Soul-Deep Renewal in the Midst of Life’s Burdens

I woke up at 4:30 a.m. this morning with this thought on my heart: What does it really mean to “REST”?

The phrase “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” is a well-known verse from the Bible, specifically Matthew 11:28. It’s an invitation from Jesus to those who are feeling overwhelmed, burdened, or exhausted—offering them a kind of rest that goes beyond simply stopping and sleeping.

This verse is part of a larger passage where Jesus contrasts his gentle and humble approach with the heavy, often exhausting burdens of religious legalism of his time. He invites us to find solace, renewal, and true rest in him, suggesting that his teachings and way of life are far lighter and more freeing than the weight of expectations and struggles we often carry.

The phrase “weary and burdened” resonates deeply because it can speak to so many forms of suffering we face in life:

• Physical toil: The exhaustion from endless work and effort.
• Spiritual burdens: The guilt, anxiety, or shame that weighs heavy on the soul.
• The burden of law and expectation: The crushing feeling of never measuring up to rules or standards.
• Emotional exhaustion: The heaviness that comes from life’s constant challenges.

Jesus’s invitation is simple yet profound. It’s not only about finding physical rest but about experiencing a deeper, spiritual renewal—a rest for the soul. It’s an open invitation to anyone who feels the weight of life pressing down, reminding us that rest is not always about stopping—it’s about surrendering.

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Moving to Tennessee, and now Alaska…
Small-town life has been healing to my heart. I’ve thought a lot about how stepping away from the busyness of city life, into the quiet rhythm of the country, has given me room to slow down, reflect, and let God work on the wounds I once carried. Alaska, with its wide-open spaces and wild beauty, has been a teacher of rest—reminding me that sometimes God calls us away so He can restore what was broken.

“Rest is not found in running from the storm but in trusting the One who calms it.”