How to Rest in a Stress-filled World

 by Barbara Latta

Berry College, located in northwest Georgia, has residents who are not students.

Two bald eagles built a home in a tall pine tree and return each year to raise their young. The college offers a live stream feed (viewhere) of the nest where viewers can watch the pair as they take care of their offspring. Eggs are usually laid around January-February and hatch in early spring.

Wind, rain, sleet, snow and storms do not deter the eagle from watching over the young. While the pair do share parenting responsibilities, the female sits on the nest for the longest duration.

The eggs are kept warm until they hatch and then the adults work tirelessly hunting food and bringing it back to the tree to feed the babies. The eaglets thrive under the watchful eyes and protection of the parent.

There are lots of enemies to baby birds. Yet they don’t flap their stubby wings and tell the parent they are worried about being taken care of.

All the babies do is rest and grow.

The chicks do not fret that the meal won’t come.

They do not worry about staying warm.

They are not afraid of predators because their parents are mighty warriors.

The fledglings dwell in the secret place of their parent’s wings.

The eagle chicks can teach us something about how to rest in a stress-filled world.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1 NKJV).

The nest is a place of refuge. A refuge is a place of rest. A place where a weary soul can know they are safe.

In Hebrews we are told to enter into God’s rest. To cease from works as in striving to obtain favor from God. To cease from the stress of peer-pressure and comparison to other people. To detach ourselves from the fear-filled headlines and worry-producing stories.

When we hear or read these things, our mind defaults to trying to find an answer to the “what-if’s” and the “why can’t I’s.”

For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His (Hebrews 4:10).

When we rest from mental laboring, we rest from stress.

Emotional labor produces stress which can exhibit as fear. We are afraid we aren’t doing something right, so we add more works to our list.

In Psalm 91, we are told what we will have when we set our love on God and these correspond to the attributes we are given in 2 Timothy 2:7. Instead of fear, we receive power, love, and a sound mind.

• Psalm 91:15 - I will answer him and I will be with him in trouble; a display of His love
• Psalm 91:15 - I will deliver him; a display of His power
• Psalm 91:16 - I will satisfy him; a display of giving us a sound mind

To stop the meditation on what could happen, or what did happen or what will we do about it, we dwell in the secret place of the Most High. The place where we are loved, fed, and protected. We meditate on Him (Psalm 46:10).

We rest in the nest. Our heavenly Father has already done the work for us.

Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Absorb the warmth from the arms.

Receive the protection from the predator (satan).

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust (Psalm 91:2).

When we abide under His wings, our rest is complete.

What are your thoughts? Join the conversation.

How to rest in a stress-filled world (click to tweet)

When we rest from mental laboring, we rest from stress (clickto tweet)