Photo by Maria Lupan on Unsplash
There’s a stillness found in sun-warmed rock. It holds the memory of light, soaking in warmth long after the sun has moved on. Resting on it, you can feel the ancient steadiness beneath you—a quiet strength that doesn’t shift or strain. Above, the sky stretches open, endless and unhurried. In between, you rest—suspended between solidity and spaciousness, embraced by both earth’s weight and heaven’s reach.
When was the last time you let yourself be completely supported? Not because you finished your to-do list or earned a break, but simply because your soul whispered enough? Imagine lying back, tension leaving your body, arms wide to the sky, heart exposed and unguarded. In that rare moment of surrender, you feel yourself held—not just by stone, but by something deeper: safety, peace, presence.
This is what resting in God can feel like. Not escape, but return. Not emptiness, but fullness without effort. Between the firm foundation of divine faithfulness and the open invitation of God’s grace, we are called to be simple. To lie still, eyes closed, and trust that the world will keep turning, not because we strive, but because He sustains. Contemplative rest teaches us we are held—always—between the sky above and the Rock beneath.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” (Psalm 23:1-3a ESV)
This beloved psalm portrays God as a shepherd who actively creates conditions for our rest and restoration. By recognizing God’s leadership (“makes me lie down”) and following His guidance toward nourishing environments, we experience provision that addresses our deepest needs. The Shepherd knows what our souls require for genuine restoration, even when we resist the very rest we need.
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10 ESV)
This verse commands us to cease our frantic activity so we can recognize God’s sovereign authority and presence. By deliberately stilling our bodies, minds, and spirits before God, we create space to perceive His reality and perspective more clearly. Our stillness serves as both acknowledgment of God’s supremacy and the necessary condition for experiencing His peace amid turmoil.
Spiritual Move: Contemplation—To rest attentively in God’s presence without agenda or achievement. Through wordless awareness of the Divine, we move beyond doing to simply being with God. Regular contemplative practice creates capacity for experiencing God’s presence even in life’s busy and challenging moments.
Journaling Prompts:
1. When do you feel most resistant to being “made to lie down”? What might God be offering you in those moments of enforced rest?
2. What specific “noises”—external or internal—most prevent you from being still before God? How might you address these barriers?
Thought and Discussion Questions:
1. How do you distinguish between merely stopping activity and truly resting in God’s presence?
2. What practices help you experience the “still waters” and “green pastures” of God’s restoration?
3. Share about a time when being still before God changed your perspective on a difficult situation.
4. What might it look like to create more opportunities for contemplative rest in your daily rhythm?
We’d love to hear from you! What stood out, and what would you add to the conversation? Drop your thoughts or questions in the “Leave a Reply” section below, (Click the Read in Browser link). — You never know what you might get started.