This week’s Reflections was written by the Rev. Dorthy Tufte of the Brookings Ministerial Association

I became a grandma again last month. I am amazed how this tiny little person has already changed our lives.

I am fascinated watching her absolute trust of her parents to take care of her needs. Their voices calm her; their touch reassures her. She knows she is safe with them. She sleeps peacefully when they wrap her up in her blanket like a little burrito, lay her in her crib, and rub her tummy.

I am challenged as I compare her confidence in her parents’ care to my confidence in my heavenly father. Do I rely on his comfort? Do I trust that I am safe with him? Can I depend on his care when I am in need? Do I sleep peacefully knowing he is with me? Do I know his intentions toward me are for my good?

I saw a recent meme on Facebook. It was a picture of a tiny baby lying on an open Bible. The caption spoke of resting on God’s word. It was cute. It was intended to inspire. But I cringed at the cheesy, christianese. Resting on God is simple, yet complicated. Most of us understand what it means to work, to serve, to be “busy about my father’s business,” as Jesus declared in Luke 2:49. We have heard the edict in Matthew 28:19 to “go into the world, making disciples and baptizing them.”

We understand being busy, focused on a duty, earning our way. But do we understand the concept of resting on God’s word? Do we look to God’s example of taking one day and resting from one’s labor, as seen in Genesis 2:2-3? Is physical rest the only part resting in him? Of resting on his word?

Webster’s Dictionary lists aspects of rest: freedom from activity, a state of motionlessness, peace of mind and spirit; a brief pause; using something for support. Resting is an intentional choice to stop busyness in order to find renewal.

I contend that resting in God or on God’s word requires this intentional decision to stop and lean on our faith. I believe it includes trusting, waiting, giving up, letting go, and patience. Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” It continues, using terms of renewed strength, recovery, endurance. Psalm 27:14 encourages one to trust, to know, to see God’s provision: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart (courage) and wait for the Lord.” It speaks of trusting enough to wait for God’s intervention, answer, defense, provision, deliverance. Mostly, it speaks of confident peace.

We see that resting is an intentional, purposeful spiritual act. It is like putting on God’s peace as one puts on a coat; to trust and know he cares. It is being confident in the waiting, wrapped in faith, as seen in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not yet seen.” Rest in his love for you.