January 3: Our Heart is Restless until it Rests in You

Gregg’s Reflection

I always understood Sabbath as resting from work. I thank Mike Breen and his 3DM Lifeshapes for helping me see this differently. Breen makes a clear distinction from my earlier understanding: Sabbath is not resting from work — it is working from rest. The key is that first I rest my identity in Christ, then I work from that rest. This illustration of the semi-circle helps me see this point.

It depicts a pendulum swinging back and forth from Rest to Work. As we abide, we begin to see things as Christ does. That leads into seasons of pruning, which in turn lead to seasons of growing and fruitfulness. It all starts when we abide in Christ and rest our identity there.

I cannot overemphasize the shift that happened when I began resting my identity in Christ. Before, I placed my identity in what I had accomplished — the kind of success the world measures — and I was always insecure in my false self, constantly worried I hadn’t done enough to please God. As my identity shifted, I experienced the dawning of a grateful heart. Instead of taking credit for my success, I began to see it as grace and blessing.

I worked hard for decades without seeing how much of my success rested on the privilege of being a white son of an entrepreneur, born in Atlanta in a time of abundant prosperity. For years I thought I was trying to prove myself to my long-dead father. I finally realized I was trying to prove myself to God. And God, in His mercy, let me hit the wall again and again — because He refused to prop up the illusion that I could do this on my own.

Scripture

A sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest.

Hebrews 4:9-11

Ancient Quotes

You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.

Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, p. 3; in Christian Mystics, p. 30

Modern Quotes

You rest in Him and He heals you with His secret wisdom.

Thomas Merton

Journaling Prompts

• Where in your life are you restless right now?
• How do you usually respond to restlessness — with activity, avoidance, or prayer?
• What would it take to hand that restlessness over to God?
• How will you make the shift from resting from work (exhausting) to working from rest (infused with the energy of Spirit)?

👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 1 reflection: Abiding/Resting in God