Share in God’s rest this festive season

Our endless hustle and weariness never seem to end. Make a conscious choice to unwind this holiday season. Find yourself, your people and your God again.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Psalm 23:2

When we see the end of the year approaching, it is as if we experience ourselves in a rapid. Those who are lucky enough to go on holiday have to make dozens of arrangements. Are the animals taken care of, will someone water the plants, what happens if the power goes out, does the security company know that we are going on holiday so they can patrol? Is the car roadworthy, is the credit card ready to make purchases on it?

Then, of course, correspondence is up to date; after all, one does not hold one’s life in one’s own hands.
Therefore, is the will up to date, and are the documents stored and sorted so that next of kin can find them? All of a sudden, you start to wonder if you shouldn’t just stay at home; there are just too many things that need to fall into place.

Those of us who stay at home think of a Christmas function in which the whole family is involved. It’s also a crazy rush. Who prepares which part of the meal, and for how many people? Do we buy gifts, and if so, how much money do we spend on them? At whose house are we visiting this year? When will the Christmas tree be decorated, and who will tell the Jesus story this year?

Live in the moment

Busy, busy, busy. Decisions and more decisions. I would suggest, whether you go on vacation or stay at home, to aim to enjoy every moment. It doesn’t help to head into the new year more exhausted, thinking you’re going to function well.

If you’re going on holiday, take off your watch the moment you get into the car. Then declare it out loud. “Me, we’re on vacation now. Yesterday and the day before yesterday are staying at home. What we would like to forget stays at home with the animals. You are not invited. If it has to, then we will pick up the threads in the new year. The world will not perish if we don’t do it now.”

Herewith is a friendly warning for the workaholics among us. Ask your other half to check that the computer, the complicated book, and the not yet done list disappear behind the garage doors into thin air just for the next week or three. No one is so indispensable that you have to stay busy to the point of boredom.

In fact, I want to challenge you to practice doing nothing.

Nothing.

God’s rest

Just enjoy life, the sunshine, the mountains and the sea, the braai and red wine, the wild animals and untouched nature, the fresh air and the starry sky, and the gifts from ABOVE. There is only one matter on the agenda. Enjoy and rest. After all, the Bible speaks of rest often. God grants us rest; in fact, He rests from his acts of creation, the Word teaches us.

Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

MATTHEW 11:28

And if you stay at home, who wants to find himself thousands of kilometres in busy traffic anyways? You console yourself. Do exactly the same. Rest, enjoy and live to the fullest.

May this festive season be wonderful and special. After all, this is why Jesus came to this world. To let us share in his rest.

Written by Jannie Pelser.

For more inspiration, read our daily devotional, The Word for Today, or listen to our podcasts on iono.fm.

The views expressed herein are that of the presenters and not Radio Pulpit.