Finding Rest in ALL Things

What a semester! So much has happened this fall and it's hard to believe it's over. It still feels like the spring semester just ended. Amidst the chaos of college schedules and intensive academics, God provided much rest and reasons to see Him in the bigger picture. This fall was full of adventures, excitement, deep reflection and wrestling with God, being patient in seasons of transition, and intentionality in my relationships. It’s quite bittersweet seeing this chapter of college come to a close, but I’m expectant for what lies ahead in student teaching and beyond. God has brought me far—both in my travels and in my spiritual maturity—this semester as I’ve leaned in closer. I wrote more, read more, researched more, and reflected more than ever before—and it paid off! I’ve “disciplined my yapping” in both my words and my writing and have found beauty in the process of creating. Here are some of my heartfelt reflections from my last semester of undergrad.

Rest in Relationships

This fall included much rest in my relationships- ALL RELATIONSHIPS!! I'm reminded of a lesson I learned and have spent time reflecting on and recounting before. In early 2023, I was a brand new Young Life leader still finding my fit in relational ministry and the ways I best connected with kids. I've shared this story here on my blog before, but I'll just share a brief summary. It was late winter and I was at a Cleveland High School basketball game sitting in the student section as all good Young Life leaders do. I was surrounded by teenagers with cheers, shouts, and dap-ups and handshakes. There was so much energy and school spirit. Despite this, I left that high school gym feeling defeated, discouraged, and disqualified for the call of ministry due to the absence of fruit for my efforts. After a raw conversation later that night with my friend and ministry supervisor, I realized that these feelings were lies from the Enemy and not true reflections of my pursuit of teenagers. My pursuit of teenagers was based in intentionality and consistently showing up. None of these relationships necessitated outward fruit for me to continue showing up. So what does this have to do with rest and my relationships this fall of 2024? Well, so much of what God was doing in me at the beginning of my time in ministry He is still doing now as He continues to lead and guide me in all areas of life. My relationships this fall were "all in." I didn't set an agenda to my relationships. With my roommate, I was simply present. I didn't need a deep conversation all the time but enjoyed those late night Taco Bell runs and sitting together watching a movie. I appreciated the simple action of being together. The same with phone calls with my mom: when we called, I didn't expect anything out of it. I still have a way to go, but I'm working on improving my active listening. I am learning to be present, appreciate her stories, and share in how God is moving in both of our lives. For my YL kids, removing the need for fruit or for relational expectations has allowed me to be much more present in our conversations and hangouts. I listen to how their weeks was, what interests them at the moment, how their hearts ache, and what they dream of. In this listening, the Holy Spirit allows me to craft intentional questions and to gain closer insights into their lives. I love that the Lord has afforded me this position of influence and to be present in the difficulties of being a teenager today.

Rest in the Processes

This fall brought me rest in the processes of many things: worshipping, creating, and daily life routines. It's a bit ironic that I'm writing about rest in this post in the final weeks of 2024 as my word for this year has been Sabbath. I struggled with this word a lot in the first half of the year. I questioned whether this word would actually guide me into 2024. I wondered whether true Sabbath was possible in light of the craziness of college life. In retrospect, I think Sabbath was one of the best words I could have chosen for 2024 with all that unfolded. As I reflected on earlier this year, the spring semester was one of tumult and challenge and wrestling with God. I struggled to find peace in that season of conflict and difficulties in my ministry. Despite what I endured through that season, God met me in the mess of it and brought me comfort and peace as His will unfolded and as He surrounded me in community and love. Rest in worship. I often find myself distracted in worship. It's unintentional of course, but I find my mind flooded by to-do lists, worries for my family, fears about the future, and a general state of overthinking. As the year progressed, I learned how to better dwell with God in these moments of distraction. My college church in Tennessee emphasized prayer for much of this fall. In service, the pastor sets aside time for corporate confession and reflection. This is holy time that I anticipate every week as I invite the Spirit to help me in the new week to come. I have found rest in worship and rest in being present for the moments God provides. In worship, I feel peace as I let God work in me as He wills. Another thing I've learned about worship is that it's a sacred thing that individuals should approach with a heart to give. How can I serve the Body today? I have started to pray for my friends after service as a way to minister to them. Rest in creating. As an English major, most of the work I do in upper-level classes is intensive research. My mind is often overwhelmed at the workload and the "how in the world will I ever compile all of this." After conversations with professors this fall, I came to realize there is beauty in the process of creating. For example, I dread the blank page. It seems impossible to start from nothing, so I always start from something: notes and quotes, typically. Instead of scraping by to the finish line of a deadline, I've begun to enjoy the process of the work: the reading, the note taking, the intricate connections between works and the modern culture, and the revision process. I've found God in this process, too. He cares deeply about the work I do and the words I put to lofty ideas. He cares about my voice and those I enter the conversation with. God provides rest in the work- even the most tedious work- as I enjoy working through ideas and applying the skills He has giving me to create something-to add onto- the work of others before me. I had Colossians 3:23-24 written on my whiteboard in my apartment for most of the semester as a reminder to see God in this work- the mundane, tedious, overwhelming work- as He is over it all and it should all lead back to him.

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Similarly, one of the most life-changing books I read this year was from Brother Lawrence called "The Practice of the Presence of God," which simply argues that a life with Jesus is much more than a scheduled prayer time or morning devotion but that our faith and our practices of spirituality are in everything we do and say and the interactions we have and the thoughts inside our head. Our time with Jesus is every breath that we take. Jesus provided rest in these moments and allowed me to spend time with him more intimately as I surrendered my time to him even when I didn't have time to dedicate a whole morning in the Word.

Rest in Transition

Finally, this fall provided much rest in a season of change and transition. Following the chaotic nature of ministry in the spring, this fall brought quite a different atmosphere of ministry. I left Student Staff with Young Life in August, which brought new possibilities for my schedule and for the nature of how I answered God's call for ministry. As I mentioned earlier, things looked different this fall. Academics ramped up with it being my last academic semester. Rather than filling up my evenings and weekends again to replace what I had cleared my schedule of, I instead left that time open. I knew God was preparing me for the busy season ahead, so I trusted that this was the best option. My free time became time to read carefully and reflect profoundly. I found myself having extra time to soak up God's Presence and be with him. I had time to spend going on adventures with friends, sharing meals, laughing, and having deep conversations. I knew this was the last normal semester of college, so I wanted to make the most of the friendships God had provided me. For ministry, time with my YL kids looked different. Being a YL leader is not just something that you do and then leave but is something you'll do for the rest of your life: the relationships last forever. While I couldn't be physically present in much of the same ways of the spring, I was intentional about texting, calling, and lots of praying. I'm grateful for the few times I got together with these high school kids to eat, laugh, and talk about real-life. God is clearly moving in their lives and watering seeds as they have begun to ask deeper questions about life and faith. Young Life in Cleveland has been in a state of transition, but I'm grateful to the Chattanooga Metro YL staff for entrusting me to help guide us forward, brainstorm strategies, and invite others along for the journey. For my professional life, I am also in a state of transition as I have now completed my academics and am approaching student teaching in January where I'll be for all of the spring semester. I'm looking forward to growing in my teaching abilities and seeking guidance from others. God has me here for a reason and I'm willing to pivot any way He deems fit for me to fulfill his call. While the future is not fully certain in what lies ahead, I'm grateful for the doors that have been opened already and am expectant for what will continued to be revealed to me. Psalm 46:10 comforts me in the fear and the unknowns:

“Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!”

Thanks y'all again for taking the time to read this blog and see how God is tangibly moving in my life!

Your friend,

Jacob Link

A playlist I compiled of some of my favorite songs (from this year and others) that ministered deeply to my heart and my situation this year and that were on repeat. I hope you enjoy!! Resting in His Presence: Sabbath