Devotional

REST AS RESISTANCE FOR OUR FAMILIES – SELAH

A month or so ago, Pastor Jay preached a sermon entitled I Need a Break. As he made his way through the message, he reiterated the point of rest---God consistently commands us to rest. To pause, to rest, to take a moment to reflect. In her book, Rest As Resistance, Tricia Hersey discusses rest as a spiritual, liberating, and even political practice for African Americans. For communities of color, resting is a radical act that disrupts the concept that we are lazy—that we are not doing enough.

This world constantly demands more productivity, more exhaustion. That mindset is teaching our children how “hard” they have to grind to demonstrate their value. Their value comes from God, not from pushing themselves to the point of collapse—constantly trying to prove their worth. But resting becomes a holy act of resistance. For many parents raising youth and teenagers, rest is not laziness; it is reclaiming what God has already promised. It is saying, “My worth is not measured by how exhausted I become.”

Matthew 11:28 reminds us that rest is God‑given, not optional. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus offers rest as a gift, not a reward. When we slow down….breathe….and create space for our families to be restored, we resist a culture that tries to deplete us.

For generations, our community has carried weight—spiritual, emotional, and societal. Rest becomes a way to break cycles of burnout. “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:2–3). God doesn’t just allow rest; He leads us into it.

Parents, when we model rest, we teach our children that peace is powerful. Our teenagers learn that they don’t have to hustle for God’s love. And our little ones learn that quiet moments are sacred. Isaiah 30:15 tells us that “…In rest you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength.

Let us all remember to choose rest as resistance. Let our homes be the sanctuaries where God restores what the world tries to drain from us. Selah

July Hiatus

In July, we were on hiatus and did not have Children’s Church and Teen Church. We are looking forward to seeing you this month!

Event Recap

Jr. Ushers and Greeters Needed

Parents! Jr. Ushers and Greeters are needed at each campus!

Please contact
Brother Maurice Scruggs
mscruggs@easternstarchurch.org
317-591-5050 x111, or

Brother Evan Cox
ecox@easternstarchurch.org
317-913-3700 x514

Service Opportunity

Please consider helping to shape the young minds of tomorrow! We are looking for individuals to serve in the following roles at our Fishers, Cooper Road, and Main Campuses:

Student Sign-in
Snack Distribution
Classroom Monitor
Parent Greeters

IGNiTE Children and Teens Volunteer Application

Upcoming Events:

Virtual Bible Study for Children will resume on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Here is the link to participate: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/se624iedSrWGkYj6CxuWZg

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IGNITE Newsletter: August 2026