One of St. Augustine’s most famous phrases speaks of a lack of rest — “rest-less” hearts can only find rest when they rest in God. His original Latin uses a word that is the base of our word quiet.
Pope Leo, ever quoting Augustine, recently spoke about this phrase, and reminded (and assured) us that, yes, one day we will have rest. Enough rest. Good rest.
“Faith tells us: Yes, we will rest,” he said. “We will not be inactive, but we will enter into God’s repose, which is peace and joy."
He was speaking about the triumph of the Resurrection but also assured us that by finding the rest in God that Augustine found, we can begin to experience such repose already on earth.
Many of us feel constantly tired. Rest is something that affects not just our bodies, but our psyches and our souls.
What is making you tired? The basics
Sometimes we’re tired simply because we’re not putting enough hours into the healing activity of sleep! Or there might be various hormonal, dietary, and fitness issues at play (or bigger medical conditions), which need to be addressed by professionals (and sometimes gym memberships!).
Also, we need to consider whether we’re engaging in “restful activities” that instead make us feel tired. Mindless scrolling is at the top of that list! An hour or two of physical exertion such as a walk or hike, or “spiritual exertion” such as volunteering at a soup kitchen or your parish, will almost certainly make you feel more rested than 5 hours of scrolling.
It’s also helpful to take stock of our spiritual foundations.
Do we even recognize the need for and goodness of rest? A look through the Catechism on “Keep holy the Sabbath Day” can be a great refresher. Another aid can be a self-examen on the acceptance of my limitations and the reality that I’m just human. Do I expect more than human from myself? It’s so restful to do what we can and be at peace with that.
Each person has different needs and realities. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what your reality is.
And because we are a body-soul unity, increasing “soul rest” will make us physically more rested too (and vice versa).
Here are four truths to rest in. Breathe slowly and deeply and let these truths bring rest to your heart.
1The Fatherhood (Goodness) of God
If we let it, the very first line of the very first paragraph of the Compendium of the Catechism can change our whole mentality about life.
God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. In the fullness of time, God the Father sent his Son as the Redeemer and Savior of mankind, fallen into sin, thus calling all into his Church and, through the work of the Holy Spirit, making them adopted children and heirs of his eternal happiness.
It says God’s plan is “sheer goodness” … The sin of Eden was about doubting God’s good intentions in our regard. Satan convinced our first parents that God might really be around to restrict and limit us.
Instead, the truth of God is that he is our Father and his will for us is always, always for our good.
This truth is so simple we have to ask the Holy Spirit to let it really settle into our hearts. We can hear “God wants what’s best for you” a million times and never really believe it. Once it becomes a certainty, though, then it’s a fount of rest.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed by your reality, whatever it is, stop and intentionally rest in God’s goodness and fatherhood.
I rest in the fatherhood of God. I rest in you my Father, my good and loving God.
2That God is Unchanging
Thomas Aquinas explained eight basic attributes of God, and one of them is that he is immutable. That means he doesn’t change or evolve. He doesn’t have mood swings or get tired of dealing with situations. He just is.
This is a truth to rest in.
Sometimes, when we’re feeling really down on ourselves, we might unconsciously imagine God feeling that way too. But that’s never the case. Instead, imagine how much he loved and delighted in you when you were a tiny infant, or as he created you in your mother's womb, or as you were in a moment of particular spiritual growth. That’s exactly how he feels about you right now too, even if you're in the midst of sin or trial!
When it seems your life or the whole world is spinning out of control, he’s there. Solid. Unchanging.
I rest in you, oh Unchanging God. You are solid rock and sure foundation.
3That Scripture is “alive”
When life feels exhausting, so often we find that there’s no one to really talk to, no one who can truly share our burdens and help to lighten them.
While we absolutely do need friends, family, and human support, oftentimes we fail to reach out for the help that God is trying to offer us … and he’s offering it in Scripture.
There’s a conversation waiting to happen — a two-way conversation about what you are facing right now in this moment — and all you have to do is open your Bible.
Take a second to dwell on these words from Dei Verbum, and especially to pay attention to the ones we have bolded.
For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life. Consequently these words are perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture: "For the word of God is living and active" (Heb. 4:12) and "it has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified" (Acts 20:32; see 1 Thess. 2:13).
Feeling that your lack of rest has zapped your energy, strength, support, power? Open your Bible. Pick just a few verses. Listen to the Father speak to you.
Father, I come to speak with you, to hear you. I accept your offer of support, energy, and strength. I rest in your words to me.
4Hope
Fourth and finally, hope.
After the jubilee, we’ve all surely spent some time thinking about hope. But don’t forget that hope helps us rest.
If struggles have you worn down and worn out, ask yourself: How is my hope? Are you convinced that Christ is faithful to his promises? (Hebrews 10:23) That he will complete the good work he has begun? (Philippians 1:6) That he desires to give his kingdom to you? (Luke 12:32)
The Catechism section on hope quotes St. Teresa of Avila. Notice what she says about how impatience affects our perception of time. And how struggles today are related to rejoicing tomorrow.
Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one. Dream that the more you struggle, the more you prove the love that you bear your God, and the more you will rejoice one day with your Beloved, in a happiness and rapture that can never end.
Let us hope, and let us rest in our hope.
I am buoyed up by hope. I rest in hope.
