Life + Faith

Tag: Peace

  • Rest in the Rock – Trusting God in the Pressure Cooker of Life

    Rest in the Rock – Trusting God in the Pressure Cooker of Life

    We live in a world that celebrates busyness and productivity, yet many of us feel burned out and empty. Sometimes we feel like we’re barely holding it together. All these demands on our time and on our life stack up, and no matter how hard you try to push through, telling yourself it’ll be easier next week, it doesn’t seem to get any better.

    In working through Psalm 62 we don’t find a quick fix or productivity hacks, but we find something deeper, something that speaks into this reality: rest in the refuge of God. 

    In my last post we explored the idea of finding our true rest in God alone, using the phrase ‘Rest in the Rock’ as somewhat of a reminder of this. Flowing on from this we find Psalm 62 helpful as we navigate the pressure cooker of life, reminding us that trusting in God as our refuge provides rest for us. 

    The Pressure Cooker

    Over Summer, here in Melbourne, we’ve already had plenty of days that have hit 30 degrees or more. Days where the heat is sapping our energy, where if we’re out in the heat of the day for too long we are drained more than usual and only find relief in our iced drinks air conditioned living rooms. It sometimes surprises us that a heatwave, even a couple of days in a row, can bring on a sense of weariness. 

    The psalmist David captures this kind of weariness in Psalm 62 when he writes, 

    Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath. (Psalm 62:9)

    If we’re honest this verse can be a bit of a downer. It gives a picture of the fleeting life. No matter our position or status, no matter the things we chase after like wealth, recognition, and achievement, it’ll all be gone. It’s the same for all.  

    When we are faced with a heatwave we go searching for shade or a cool room. When we are inside with the blinds drawn, or under the air conditioner, or even in the pool, the sun is still there. The heat is still there. What those things do is shield us and offer us relief. This is what it means to take refuge in God. It doesn’t mean the pressure of life will vanish, but he gives our soul a place to breathe, to rest, to cool down again. 

    The False Refuge

    But, when the pressures of life stack up, one upon another, we don’t always run to God first. Often we turn to those temporary comforts. 

    These days it’s most likely going to be scrolling through social media or playing around on our phones. But it could go the other way, being focussed so much on work or picking up a project that stops us from being involved in others responsibilities in life. These ‘refuges’ dull that heatwave of pressure but leave us just as empty as before. 

    In v10 the psalmist warns about these false refuges when he writes, 

    Do not trust in extortion or put vain hope in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. (Psalm 62:10)

    I doubt most of us are engaging in extortion or stealing or fraud, but the bigger point is about what we put our trust in. Whether it is money, status, performance, or distraction, these things are not given to us to sustain us. In fact, they are as fleeting as our own lives. Our search for rest and fulfilment in these things soon become as exhausting as the other pressures of life.

    God Our Refuge

    Instead, Psalm 62 offers up a better way.

    Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8)

    We have here an invitation into an honest relationship with God. 

    It’s funny how we often put aside our raw and honest selves, hiding those things deep within our hearts to God. He knows them anyway, but something about the sin and brokenness of our soul makes us shield ourselves from the guilt and shame we know sits there. We’d like to present polished versions of ourselves to God, but instead we’re like Adam and Eve just after they’ve eaten from the forbidden tree, hiding our true selves from the God who loves us so. 

    God, after all, is the only refuge in life that we can come to in total abandon. He is the one who will hear us, have compassion and kindness toward us, when we ‘pour out our hearts’ to him. Like a dam that must release the overflow, our hearts full of the pressures of life are invited to release and freedom when we acknowledge our trust in him. 

    Rest In Jesus

    This theme of refuge finds its fulfilment in Jesus. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus gives this powerful invitation:

    Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

    This is the kind of rest we need—not just relief from our circumstances but a deep, soul-level peace that comes from knowing we are held by him who loves us.

    Jesus doesn’t promise to remove life’s pressures, but he does offer to walk with us through them. When we trust him as our refuge, we find freedom from striving to prove our worth or control everything ourselves.

    Psalm 62 reminds us that our true refuge is in God. He is the shade in the heat, and the rest our souls long for.

    Rest in the Rock: A Series in Psalm 62
    Part 1: Rediscovering True Rest
    Part 2: Trusting God in the Pressure Cooker of Life
    Part 3: A Rest That Transforms
    Related: 11 Helpful Books on Burnout and Ministry and my review of The Unhurried Pastor

  • Clear the Clutter: Steps to Simplify Your Life and Focus on Faith

    Clear the Clutter: Steps to Simplify Your Life and Focus on Faith

    Where can you reduce clutter in your life?

    So much of life fills up, doesn’t it?  

    Our homes, our schedules, and even our minds can start to feel crammed with things that don’t belong—things that weigh us down instead of lifting us up. Clutter creeps in slowly, often unnoticed, until one day we find ourselves overwhelmed, out of focus, and running on empty.

    But what if clearing out the clutter could make more space for what truly matters? What if it’s not just about tidying up but about making room for God to work in and through us?

    When tackling clutter we might consider the physical, mental, and spiritual areas of life. 

    1. Your Physical Space

    It’s common for the environment around us to shape how we feel and function. Whether it’s your kitchen bench, your wardrobe, or that drawer stuffed with everything from rubber bands to old receipts, physical clutter can weigh you down.

    Jesus told his disciples, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20). While he wasn’t talking about organising your pantry, the principle underneath this is that our physical space, like our homes, are places to reflect kingdom priorities, not consumerist ones.

    Simplifying your space can free your energy to focus on what matters most.

    2. Your Schedule

    One of the great lies culture tells us is that busyness equals importance. But constant activity doesn’t make us more faithful or fruitful—it just makes us tired and exhausted.

    Paul writes in Ephesians 5:15-16, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.” Making the most of every opportunity doesn’t mean cramming your calendar with commitments; it means being intentional about where your time goes.

    I regularly look at my schedule to make sure I’ve said “yes” to the important things and align the week to my priorities. It’s not easy when there are so many options and things to do, but sometimes we need to clear the clutter in our diaries so we have time and space for what God is calling us to do. 

    3. Your Mind

    Clutter isn’t just about stuff; it’s about the noise in your head—the to-do lists, the comparisons, the worries. It’s easy to let your thoughts spiral into overwhelm, but Scripture gives us a different way.

    “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Renewing your mind means filtering out the distractions and lies, and filling your thoughts with God’s truth instead.

    Start small. Take five minutes at the start or end of your day to sit quietly with God. Pray, journal, or meditate on Scripture. Over time, this discipline will help clear the mental clutter and create space for his peace to settle in.

    4. Your Spiritual Life

    Finally, consider where spiritual clutter might be crowding out your relationship with Jesus. This might look like going through the motions in your faith or holding onto things that keep you from walking closely with Him.

    Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” What’s holding you back? Are there habits, distractions, or misplaced priorities you need to surrender to God?

    Clearing spiritual clutter doesn’t mean adding more “holy” activities to your week. It’s about returning to the basics—prayer, Scripture, and worship—and letting God reorder your heart.

    Clearing Clutter for the Kingdom

    At its core, reducing clutter isn’t about perfection; it’s about purpose. It’s about removing the distractions that pull our hearts away from God so we can live with intention and freedom.

    So where can you begin? Pick one area—your home, your schedule, your thoughts, or your spiritual walk—and ask God to help you clear what’s unnecessary. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. As we make space, we open ourselves up to the life Jesus promised: one of peace, joy, and fullness in him.

  • Rest in the Rock – Rediscovering True Rest

    Rest in the Rock – Rediscovering True Rest

    Rest.

    It’s most likely different for all of us. For some, it is sinking into the couch at the end of a long day; for others, it’s going to a favourite cafe for a quiet coffee, or perhaps it’s just a moment to catch your breath in between all those tasks to do.

    If we’re honest, many of us aren’t great at resting. Even when we try, our minds race with unfinished tasks, or we find ourselves turning to distractions that promise rest but leave us feeling just as drained.

    Challenging Our Restlessness

    After a recent pastoral retreat with our team, Psalm 62 has become a bit of a motto for me this year. It’s a psalm about rest—not the kind you get from a good night’s sleep, but the deep, soul-level rest that comes from trusting in God. It challenges us to rethink what rest really means and to ask some deeper questions, like:

    • What is driving me to avoid rest?
    • Why do I keep going and going without stopping?

    Psalm 62 doesn’t offer tips or techniques for resting better. Instead, it points us to the source of true rest—God Himself. The refrain that keeps going around my head is ‘Rest in the Rock’, which, as you’ll see, is a key theme that comes through this psalm.

    Rest in the Rock

    Psalm 62 begins with a declaration:

    Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2)

    These verses set the tone for the whole psalm. Rest isn’t about doing nothing or escaping life’s pressures. It’s about where we place our trust. The psalmist is clear: true rest is only found in God.

    The image of God as a rock, a fortress, and a refuge runs throughout Scripture. It’s a picture of stability, strength, and security. I think of birds nesting in the crevices of a cliff face during a storm, safe from the wind and rain. Or rabbits darting into their burrows when danger is near. These animals instinctively know where to go for refuge. But for us, it’s not always so simple.

    When life gets overwhelming, or gets busy, we often look for comfort in all the wrong places. This can be zoning out in front of the TV, scrolling endlessly on our phones, or chasing achievements to prove our worth. These things might give us a momentary escape, but they don’t provide the deep rest our souls need.

    Psalm 62 calls us to a different kind of refuge:

    Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8)

    True rest comes from trusting God with the pressures of life. It means pouring out our hearts to Him—our worries, fears, and frustrations—and finding in Him the security and peace we’re looking for.

    But why is this so hard? Why do we resist the very rest we know we need?

    The psalmist speaks about the pressures of life and the distractions of the world in a few ways:

    • The pursuit of power and status (v9).
    • The lure of wealth and possessions (v10).
    • The fear of what others think or say about us (v3-4).

    These things promise satisfaction but leave us restless. As Augustine famously wrote:

    “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

    Where Do You Find Your Rest?

    Where are you seeking rest outside of God? What is driving your busyness or your need to keep going?

    I’ve been exploring this more honestly with myself over the last 12–18 months. There have been seasons, and no doubt there will be more, where I have sought refuge in productivity, trying to prove my worth by how much I could accomplish. As I continue to be honest with myself, I am constantly tempted to put my trust in my own efficiency. But Psalm 62 reminds me that my salvation, my identity, and my rest depend on God, not on anything I do.

    Perhaps this is just a word for myself as I step into this year. Perhaps it is also a word for you, as you try and deal with the overwhelm.

    Rest in the Rock: A Series in Psalm 62
    Part 1: Rediscovering True Rest
    Part 2: Trusting God in the Pressure Cooker of Life
    Part 3: A Rest That Transforms
    Related: 11 Helpful Books on Burnout and Ministry and my review of The Unhurried Pastor

  • The Greatest Gift

    The Greatest Gift

    What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

    How would you answer this question?

    There are so many angles to consider:

    • The angle of need and want in the material world in which we live.
    • The angle of the inner life, what we seek and need for our souls and hearts.
    • The angle of the right here and now, or the long-term perspective of life as a whole.

    I wonder how you would answer?

    For me, the answer is clear.

    I’ve already received the greatest gift.

    This is a gift I was given many years ago. It’s a gift many others have also accepted, and it’s one I hope others will receive too—particularly those I know and love.

    This gift is from God, who seeks to give all people the gift of His love through Jesus Christ.

    As the familiar words of John 3:16 remind us: 

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

    This verse highlights God’s deep love for His people and all of creation. It speaks of a gift given so that the world may know true love—divine love—and receive eternal life.

    This is the gift of salvation. It’s the gift of forgiveness for sin. It’s the gift of being present with God. It’s the gift of peace, joy, and hope—those very themes we celebrate at Christmas.

    This is the greatest gift I have ever received, and it will always remain the greatest gift I could ever receive.

    What about you, how would you respond?

    This is a writing response to the WordPress daily prompt.

  • A Psalm For Our Sanity

    Ooft, there’s no other way to say it, the restrictions now placed on us here in Melbourne are brutal.

    Yesterday evening we entered a ‘State of Disaster’, which now means we have a curfew, limited time for exercise, and we’re unable to travel more than 5km from our home (except for special circumstances). This is now in place for six weeks, and is off the back of a second lockdown of which we had already been in for three weeks.

    There’s not much to say.

    It’s been tough, it’s going to continue to be tough.

    There’s a range of feels–annoyance, sadness, denial, shock, depression, apathy, anger, and whatever else you’ve been going through.

    It’s times like this I’m thankful for the Psalms.

    5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
        my hope comes from him.
    6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
        he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
    7 My salvation and my honour depend on God;
        he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
    8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
        pour out your hearts to him,
        for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:5-8)

    There are plenty of Psalms that may help those of us who are struggling right now. And it seems the lament-style are the most appropriate ones. Here in Psalm 62 I find comfort in the words like rest, hope, rock, fortress, refuge and trust. These are words that resonate with the God I know, and I hope they are words that resonate with the God you know too. With so much changing, often by the day, knowing God is firm and solid and provides care and refuge for us is important. He gives us something stable to rely on in these unreliable days.

    These days are not easy. And while we may all be in this wild seas together, each household is in a different boat. As we navigate the range of emotions we feel and the situations we find ourselves in may we show the kindness and graciousness of God to each other and to ourselves.