Embarking on another season of Lent reminds me of God’s invitation to a slower pace; even a time of rest. Yet, as at other times when the music of my life stops, a certain restlessness moves in. As if the rest somehow is misplaced.
Invitations to rest from the daily routines surface much like musical rests, full of purpose, but by no means indicate the song is over.
Learning the execution of a musical rest presents as much challenge as learning the art of rest in our own lives.
Comparing notes with a former music teacher, provided a good laugh, while at the same time revealing our inability as a society to embrace times of stillness. She commented mastering the musical rest within a piece of music took her students longer than mastering the notes themselves.
Upon approaching or executing a musical rest, students routinely became anxious and often counted the beats of the rest incorrectly, coming back into their piece too soon. While others sat distracted thinking the piece had ended.
Resonating too close to home for me, I marveled at my own impetuosity when faced with a pause in my life. How many times had I ended my rest too soon? Or worse, fell into foolishly thinking that particular segment had come to an end.
When the music stops during a musical rest, though no notes are played, the rest commands an important role in the complex whole of the piece. So, too, seasons of rest punctuate the melody of our life.
Wisely placing pauses such as illness, disappointed plans, or failed efforts, God creates intentional times for rest. But He also allows other times of stillness, one of which is the forty days of Lent.
“Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
Lent requires a slower, more reflective pace. Times of literal and spiritual stillness, allowing us to recalibrate and deeply repent. These disciplines simply do not happen in a hurry or without intentional stops.
Though no stranger to the concept or the experience of Lent, this morning the old restlessness plagued my quiet time, while God beckoned a lingering, thoughtful posture. Like those music students, I became anxious, and ended the rest before the rest felt complete.
Perhaps the greatest invitation of rest comes from Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
In meditating upon this well-known verse, I see a beautifully designed musical rest for the melody of my life especially during Lent.
Embarking on Lent, weary and burdened not only with life at times, but sin, we come afresh to God in contemplative prayer and reflection leading to deep repentance.
As we reflect upon the greatest sacrifice ever made for our redemption through Christ, we draw nearer to Him. The “yoke” of His teachings and life provide rest for our souls, not punishment or burdensome legalism.
Jesus bore the full punishment required by God’s law, gifting us with a redemption we in no wise deserve, yet freely receive.
Too often in our lives, when the music stops, we grieve and lament our silenced voices in the Creator’s song. But how does a skilled musician play the musical rest? With unwavering precision, he counts the beats and plays the next note in brilliant confidence, as if no pause ever existed.
The music of our lives is written by God with divine purpose. We must not become discouraged or hasty in changing the measure of rest, but rather trust God in the stillness of it.
During Lent, if we will embrace the rest, through contemplative stillness, allowing the work of repentance to come to fruition, we will find greater intimacy and beauty in the melody of our lives entwined in Christ.
How will you embrace Lenten rest?
If you enjoyed reading this post, there’s more! Sign up for my Substack; a little slice of serenity delivered right to your inbox!
I can understand how musical rests can be hard to follow correctly! We want to keep moving to some type of beat, don’t we? I’ve been taking a Soul Care study this Lenten season that is all about rest. And my word for the year is Relax. I’m understanding more what it means to take on Jesus’ easy and light yoke. I’m also learning that rest is where God calls us to live, and it is in rest that we know the joy that He calls us to experience. I also recently read “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer that helped me understand how Jesus lived out “rest” during His time with us, too!
Lynn, your thoughtful comment is a blessing. Soul care and your word “relax” go wonderfully together and radiate what I believe God wants us to embrace more of in our lives. Apart from rest in Christ we really have no real idea of Joy and Peace! I truly enjoyed Comer’s book “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry”, it was convicting to notice just how much of my life I lived in a hurry!!
Isn’t it amazing how when we’re so busy and tired, we long for rest. But when we have a chance to rest, we often look to spend that time doing something more “productive” instead. I try to tell my brain every night that now it’s time to REST; take a break from trying to figure everything out. ha. During Lent I have been focusing on going things more slowly. It forces me into a more mindful attitude about whatever I’m doing, even if resting. Thanks for your wisdom here, Donna.
Lisa, this crazy paradox of rest and busyness plagues me unmercifully. You are so correct, at times I am so weary, yet find so many other things to do even when presented with an opportunity to rest that I never really recharge. Your bedtime ritual resonates with me, I do the same thing, my mind is so hard to turn “OFF”, even if I give in and allow my physical body to rest, my mind stays ever so active. Like you, Lent is presenting me with ways to at least slow down, creating more mindfulness!
What a beautiful picture of the balance of movement and rest in music and how the Master Composer orchestrates rest and movement in our lives, Donna. Masterfully written!
Thank you, Lisa, this was a fun post to write and I enjoyed the lesson on balance too! I so appreciate your kind words of encouragement!
Donna, this is a powerful post on the beauty and purpose of rest. God knew we needed the rest, the pause, and yet as we pause, He continues His work in our lives. May we trust Him with every pause, every beat for He knows best the melody of our lives. I so appreciated your words tonight.
Thank you, Joanne for your kind and encouraging words! I am so thankful for God’s wisdom in the pauses He initiates in our lives!
Oh dear Holy Spirit, keep the music playing when we rest, when we weep, while we wait and work.
Oh yes, Linda, may He help us stay with Him as He orchestrates the rests of our lives!