We’re more than half way through this year and I wonder how many of us can say the first six months were better, worse or exactly how we hoped, expected, or anticipated? Regardless of where you fall on that line, You have 6 more months ahead of you!
So what are you going to do with it?
Reset: to set again or differently; a way of starting again after a period of rest or change.
Honestly, part of me doesn’t vibe well with the idea of a reset. I mean, it’s easy to think of resetting as starting completely over. But the more I sit with it, the words “again” and “after a period of rest or change” jumps off the screen and at my spirit. As I unpack the message, I feel something extraordinary because:
It implies that we might be starting over, but it’s still not from the same starting point as before. Instead, its from point of gained wisdom, new understanding, a fresh perspective. And something I’ve learned over the years — God reveals Himself through the gift of revelation.
Ecclesiastes 2:26: To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness.
Resting isn’t a break from progress, it’s a bridge to alignment. Depending on the translation, “rest” appears over 400 times in the bible — referring to things like physical rest, spiritual rest, peace from enemies, or remaining still in the presence of the Lord. Some translations of the Hebrew words referring to rest equate to: being quiet, giving comfort, to settle, to cease or stop, or as resting place, or settled peace. In all rest is a spiritual principle. And when you rest you are trusting God’s sufficiency, enjoying His presence, receiving restoration and living in the promise of ultimate renewal.
1 Kings 19:4-8 this is the story of the prophet Elijah, he was so drained physically, emotionally and spiritually that he asked God to take his life. But God didn’t rebuke him or tell him to push through. Instead, He gave Elijah rest, nourishment and gentle care. Only after Elijah rested did God give him revelation at Mount Horeb (verses 9-18).
Instead of losing, we gained. A lot of times, starting over is associated with waste — waste of time, energy and resources. But not only do we serve a God that restores, He also frees us. Idk about you but I felt renewed as I dove into the biblical importance of “rest.” To think that during my resting period, there is a weight that I walked in with but no longer carry. I am free from it’s burden — be it anxiety, depression, double-mindedness, procrastination, lust, weariness, people-pleasing, pessimism, doubt.. you name it. Whatever chained you, freed you and now gives you the power to start over from a new position.. a new vantage point.
Matthew 11:28-30: 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I read somewhere that the enemy of best isn’t always bad — sometimes it’s busy, impressive and applauded. Because temptation won’t always be obviously evil. It can be deceivingly similar to God’s will while being the “almost-right” thing that drift you the farthest away.
Whew.. Lord. Puts a different spin on the power of a rest and the grace found in a reset. So right now, slow down and allow God to reset your internal GPS system for these next 6 months. He might produce abundance where there was already fruit or he might turn something headed to a grave into a garden. But either way, there is revelation waiting and a more divinely-aligned future waiting for you to simply rest and start again.
For me, I know it’s the things that I’ve been trying to do with my own strength under the name of purpose — how I’m called to serve my family and the world but doing both a disservice by moving ahead or without God then feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed under weight He didn’t intend for me to carry in the first place.
But where can you use a reset from God? Here’s a simple framework I found online that might help filter things.
Reflect — What area(s)
of life feels more draining than energizing and life-giving?
Recognize — Am I holding onto something (people, outcomes, responsibilities) that belongs to God?
Receive — How and where am I making space for what God is trying to restore in me? Is it through prayer, stillness, worship, nature, community, or physical rest?
Refocus — What’s the “new thing” — a vision, correction, hope & faith?
Respond — What’s one small act of obedience or trust I can take after this reset?
Once you know where you can use a reset, let me know in the comments or directly. The bible says as iron sharpens iron, so does one person sharpen another. So lets’s grow in grace and purpose together.
