Surrendering to Rest

By Sharisse Lucas

Reno, Nevada, USA

Scripture Reading

• Exodus 16:13-30
• Mark 6:30-31

Whether you are single, a mom, married, working outside of the home or in the home, as women we are all pretty busy! Life has a way of keeping us busy. It can be hard at times to give ourselves permission to stop and simply receive the gift of rest that God so wants us to have. I learned this the hard way in my early 30s. During this season of my life, I was working part-time in the ministry and part-time overnight as a sleep apnea technician. My children were aged 3 and 6 at the time. These are beautiful but physically demanding years in the parenting journey. It was during this time that I learned about accepting the gift of rest. Depression runs in my family. For the first time in my life, I was depressed. In fact, I was severely depressed. I had managed to overwork myself emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I was now forced to rest and adopt a different lifestyle to be my optimal best for God, my husband, my kids and the people I was serving in the ministry.

Exodus 16:13-30 reads:

That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning, there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer for each person you have in your tent.’”

The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.”

However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So, Moses was angry with them.

Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So, bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’”

So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.”

Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” So the people rested on the seventh day.

This scripture teaches me that God always gives us enough provisions so that we can rest. He has got us covered in any and everything! Oftentimes, it is easy to forget this and take matters into our own hands and make ourselves feel like we must create the outcomes of all things that are in our life. Living this way is beyond tiring and can make us feel resentful. I know I most certainly did at times. In verse 28, God was not pleased with the fact that His children refused to heed His instruction concerning taking a Sabbath’s rest on the seventh day. God knows what is best for us as He created us. He knows how we best function. This is why He cares very much about us getting rest. We don’t function well when we don’t!

As stated earlier, I managed to get myself into a severe depression because I wasn’t taking proper care of the temple that God had blessed me with. It was at that moment that I finally realized just how serious rest was. In Exodus 34:21 it states, “21Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.” This scripture is helpful because I am instructed that no matter how busy things get, and how urgent life’s scenarios might be, I MUST rest! God gives me specific instruction to rest. 

Mark 6:30-31 says:

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

I have felt at times swamped by the many demands on my time and spiritual, emotional, and physical reserves. Although God wants us to be a light for Him and serve many in His name, He wants us to fight for balance. In verse 31, Jesus invited the apostles to go be with him in a quiet place and get some rest. That invitation still stands for all of us today! I now have deep convictions about getting rest. I am unapologetic about taking naps, if need be, having special dates with God, taking prayer walks, watching sunsets, spending extended special time with God in prayer and in His word. I learned the hard way that it is imperative that I accept the gift of rest. My prayer is that if you struggle with gifting yourself rest as God so ordains, that you will make whatever lifestyle changes necessary to make this your practice for the rest of your lives!

Questions for Reflection

1. What stops you from accepting the gift of rest that God wants you to have?

2. Why does God want you to rest?

3. How might you be able to remind other sisters around you to accept the gift of rest?

Today I will

• Find a simple lifestyle change you can make today that will allow you to start accepting your gift of rest weekly. God intended for us to take a weekly Sabbath’s rest! Maybe you can borrow some of the ideas I shared if you are at a loss for ideas or simply use my suggestions to help you come up with what would work better for you and your needs.

About the Author

Sharisse Lucas has been a disciple for 32 years. She has served along with her husband in the ministry for 30 years. The Lucases have served 10 churches in places including the United States, England, and Guam! She has two adult children who are both disciples. They are aged 25 and 22. Sharisse has been keynote speaker for several women’s conferences and has authored a book, Because Life Happens. Sharisse is continuing her graduate work in the spring of 2024. Her goal is to become a licensed professional counselor like her husband Marvin Lucas.