I am discharged from all my work responsibilities right now, so I can quietly lay in my bed and be as peaceable as I choose. I’m not bored, just tired.  And rest is given when your exhaustion ceases and surrenders to God’s exhaustive peace. I’ve labored enough for the day and now I desire to labor for rest--by laying my soul down. Laying down to sleep is the second most important part of the day, next to the state of my soul upon waking up. These two are inextricably linked, and one most definitely dictates the other.

Conversely, staying in a state of exhaustion while laying down to sleep is counterproductive.  We may think we are resting because our body is not in motion, but the mind and emotions—the soul—ought to be the true recipients of rest, which ultimately affects the body.  Therefore, without my soul learning to cease, there can never be rest called peace or a peaceable night of sleep.

So I choose to lay my soul down to agree with the position of my body.  The shell of me lays, while the core of me rests.  I need the threefold cord of my being—mind, body, spirit—to remain in this agreement.  If just one component is out of order, I can only call my labor to rest disorder.  “A threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

I’m confident that my mind, body, and spirit have done all God purposed them to do for the day, and now my labor is to simply rest.  Rest that is tied into this threefold cord creates vitality and clarity.  It produces a state of sleep that is more than physical, it’s economical.  This type of rest is discovered when the cord of your being operates at its most productive capacity, which is actually based on your capacity to labor into “stillness” (Psalm 46:10).

I’ve labored my way here and at this very moment, I’ve turned my pillow into His yoke.  Jesus whispers, “Come to Me, all you who labor…and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me…and you will find rest for your soul (Matthew 11:28-29).

I’ve found His rest and it will not be quickly broken.