Ready:
“Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken.” – Psalm 62:5-6
Set:
If your sport is currently in season, you have plenty to do each day. Even in the offseason, you’re not actually “off.” You have workouts, lifting, camps, etc. All of this can leave you feeling fatigued and spent. How do you get the rest you really need when responsibilities and pressures can seem relentless?
In Psalm 62, the psalmist describes how he is facing relentless pressure from enemies. He’s feeling beat up and weary. So, the psalmist does some self-coaching in verses 5-6: “Rest in God alone, my soul…” The rest the psalmist speaks of is more significant than physical rejuvenation. This is soul-level rest: rest at the core of who we are. This rest comes not from sleeping in, a recovery day or a week on a beach. It’s found “in God alone.” God is the source and giver of this far deeper rest. How do we go about finding rest in God alone?
Soul-level rest comes as we daily remind ourselves that God is sovereign over all and His purposes will not be thwarted: He is our hope. We experience soul-level rest as we remain confident in God’s unchanging character while living in an ever-changing world: He is our rock. Soul-level rest is rooted in remembering that God has already demonstrated His sacrificial love for us through His Son Jesus: He is our salvation. We find soul-level rest through knowing that God is all-powerful and always faithful: He is our stronghold.
In season or out of season, find rest each day in God alone. No matter how relentless your sport might be, look to the Lord for soul-level rest.
Go:
As you think about your schedule, what would it look like for you to prioritize time for finding rest in God?
In this current season, which of these truths about God do you need to daily remind yourself of so that you can experience deeper rest: He is your hope, your rock, your salvation, or your stronghold?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord, I praise You because You alone are my hope, my rock, my salvation, and my stronghold. Thank You that as I depend upon You, You give me soul-level rest. I trust You for this rest I need. Amen.”