1 Chronicles 4:40  
They found lush pastures there, and the land was spacious, quiet, and peaceful.  (NLT)

And they found it—lush pasture, lots of elbow room, peaceful and quiet. (MSG)

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My bride and I moved from our home of seventeen years to another home closer to two of our three granddaughters. I knew my bride would choose a sensible and comfortable home. No question about that. My singular requirement on top of that? Peace and quiet. 

The home we left, and loved so much, filled with so many echoes of laughter and tears, broken hearts and healing joy, abutted one of the busiest thoroughfares in the county. It sounded like a racetrack all night long. Deep sleep was hard to come by. 

I slept more deeply the first night in our new home than I had in many years. The second night, I slept a full eight hours. It has been years since I slept that long and that deeply. 

Sleep is God’s gift to replenish our bodies, to restore our lives, to untangle the knots of the day just passed. We are to work from a place of rest rather than rest from our work. The order of creation begins with evening, followed by morning. In other words, rest before work. 

Rested minds are more thoughtful and creative. Rested bodies are stronger and demonstrate endurance. Rested hearts are more loving and giving. 

The verse above reminds us of Psalm 23. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul,” (NIV).

My bride and I are taking a week of vacation soon, just the two of us. Our agenda is simple: sleep, eat, read, rest, and recover. We will listen to the waves as they carry away our worries. We will watch the setting sun carry away our troubles. We will awaken to God’s fresh mercies. Silence and solitude will provide the background hymns of our worshipful retreat. 

My one competitive goal for our time away is to see if I can sleep beyond eight hours in a single evening’s slumber. 

Just a note: We are not experiencing any dire circumstances requiring recovery. Life is good. We are also at an inflection point of sorts. Also, transitions loom. It’s a good time to reflect and prepare. And so we shall. 

When and where will you next experience God’s gift of lush pastures, and spacious, quiet, and peaceful places of rest? When will you intentionally experience restoration and fresh focus on what matters most?

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I will follow our Shepherd and Father into places of quiet rest and peaceful restoration. 

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Our Father, thank you for the gifts of peace and rest. Thank you for settings of simplicity and silence. Thank you for deep sleep and sweet dreams. Thank you for a lifetime companion to double the joy. Thank you for your presence to guide, refresh, and restore our lives. Amen.