Relax, rejoice, rest.

“for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:10)

One thing I used to hate the most around Christmas season is this:

When I was in college, I hated having to stress over class projects, papers and finals during Christmas season. The holiday tunes were telling me to relax, while the professors were telling me the opposite.

It was a terrifying place and situation to be in, wanting to rejoice but also grieving on the consequences of not making the grade. Some folks know their materials, but anxiety causes their mind to go blank on finals day.

When Christ said not to worry, he meant for us to “relax”.

Not just relax, but also rejoice and rest.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34)

I always looked forward to breaks so that I could rest from stressing about school for a while.

Christ is my break sent directly from God.