When Rest Feels Like a Risk

There’s something I’ve learned about rest.

It’s not always easy.

It’s not always welcomed.

And sometimes — it feels like a risk.

We live in a world that measures our value by how much we do.

Be busy, be productive, be strong.

Rest? That’s for when everything is finished.

That’s for when you’ve earned it.

But what happens when everything is never finished?

When the to-do list runs longer than your energy?

When slowing down feels less like a reward… and more like failure?

What “Rusted” Really Means

When I named this blog The Rusted Sparrow, I was thinking about how I often feel:

A little weathered. A little weary. A little rusted.

Rusted in the sense of feeling tired and imperfect — like I’ve been doing a lot of flapping but not much flying.

But there’s another meaning too.

In Dutch, the word “rust” means rest.

And that’s the quiet heartbeat behind this space.

A place where grace meets rust.

Where being tired isn’t a disqualification — it’s a signal.

A call to stillness.

Why Rest Feels Risky

Rest can feel like a loss of control.

A step away from everything we think we’re supposed to manage.

It can feel scary to stop — not because we don’t want to — but because we’re afraid everything will fall apart if we do.

But the truth is… rest is not a luxury.

It’s not weakness.

It’s sacred.

"Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28

That invitation wasn’t just for one quiet Saturday.

It was for our overpacked calendars.

Our weary parenting.

Our quiet shame.

Our striving.

What It Looks Like for Me

Sometimes it’s dramatic — shutting things down, stepping away, reordering my life.

But most often, it’s small and unseen:

• A deep breath in the car before walking into a hard room

• A whispered prayer at the sink

• A moment of silence instead of another scroll

• A decision to choose peace over perfection

It’s learning to believe that grace is still working… even when I’m not.

If you’re reading this with tired eyes and a heavy spirit — I want you to know:

You don’t have to earn your rest.

You don’t have to keep proving your worth.

You don’t have to hold it all together.

You are allowed to pause.

You are allowed to fall apart and still be loved.

You are allowed to rest.

Welcome to The Rusted Sparrow.

There’s space here for your weary soul — and grace that carries more than you know.

— Brianne