Rest. Recover. Receive.

Scripture: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” — Psalm 23:2–3a (NIV)

I didn’t choose rest—my body did it for me.

Tearing my patellar tendon was one of the most disruptive and defining moments of my life. In an instant, everything stopped. I was used to being the strong one—leading, serving, moving fast. But suddenly, I couldn’t even walk on my own. Crutches, braces, and pain became daily reminders that I was no longer in control.

At first, I was frustrated. Slowing down felt like failure. But somewhere in that forced pause, God met me.

“He makes me lie down…”That line from Psalm 23 hit differently. Sometimes God doesn’t ask us to rest—He makes us lie down because He knows restoration can’t happen at full speed. My injury was physical, but the healing I needed went deeper. Underneath the torn tendon was a soul worn thin by constant motion, constant giving, constant pressure to prove I was enough.

It was in that vulnerable place that three words began to guide me:

Rest. Not just physical rest—but soul rest. The kind where you stop striving, stop managing everyone else’s emotions, stop tying your worth to your output. I had to learn to be still—to sit with God, not as a leader or performer, but as a beloved son.

Recovery. Healing wasn’t passive. It required intentional cooperation. I had to submit to the slow work—physical therapy for my body, spiritual therapy for my heart. I showed up. I cried. I prayed. I let others carry what I usually carried.

Revelation. In that stillness, I began to hear again. God reminded me: You are not what you do. You are mine. That truth had gotten drowned out in the noise of ministry and performance. But in the quiet, it came through clearly.

And here’s what I now believe: you don’t have to hit rock bottom to discover sacred rest. You can choose it now. You can let God lead you beside quiet waters before life forces you to stop.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where is your body, heart, or soul asking you to slow down?

2. What does real rest look like in this season for you—not just sleep, but surrender?

3. What might God be trying to reveal in your stillness that you’ve been too busy to hear?

Prayer: Father, thank You for meeting me in weakness. Thank You for reminding me that I am loved, not for what I do, but for who I am in You. Help me to rest without guilt, recover with grace, and receive Your truth again. I trust You to restore what hustle and pressure never could. Amen.