Praying Helps Our Hearts Find Rest

Colleen Mallette explores the benefit described in Saint Augustine’s famous teaching on prayer.

You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You. (Saint Augustine, Confessions) 

This famous quote is a beautiful prayer to have in our arsenal of prayers to our Loving Father. 

It encompasses so many thoughts in such a nice, concise way.  

You Have Made Us for Yourself, O Lord  

First, the prayer tells us that God made each of us as unique individuals because He wanted to. He loves us exactly for who we are and gave us particular gifts, talents, personalities, and charisms for a reason. He has incredible plans for our lives. He gives each of us a specific mission that no one else can accomplish because of who we are, where we live, and when we were born.   

His missions all have to do with bringing others to Him. Your mission may feel obvious (as a spouse or parent), or it may not (a random, faith-filled comment to a stranger). We need to be open to listening and discerning what we sense God is calling us to on a daily basis. Plus, it is important to intentionally review this concept regularly in order to see if we are still following His call and using our gifts to fulfill the mission He has for us.   

The first part also speaks to me that God made us because He loves each of us and desires to have us return to Him in heaven and spend eternity with Him. His vision of heaven would not be complete without each and every one of His children He created throughout all of history. That is a big concept, but a beautiful one. 

Our Hearts Are Restless Until They Rest in You  

When we feel restless, we just can’t seem to get settled down. Our thoughts and body keep flitting from one thing to another without being able to finish anything or feel at peace. We try to complete projects or conversations, but they jump around without purpose or resolution.   

When relationships are restless, it may be because there are unresolved issues we can’t seem to get past. When decisions are unmade, we can spend weeks doing research, seeking others’ opinions, and rehashing the options over and over without a decision.   

This feeling of restlessness is a result of our efforts at trying to find resolutions on our own. But when we turn to God in prayer and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit, we will be rewarded with a sense of peace when we are steered toward His will. Laying our problems at the foot of the Cross, listening for His answer, and feeling that peace will bring us to feel rested. We may still need to do research and seek others' trusted opinions, but when they concur with what God puts in our hearts, that gives us a clue that it is right.   

God is the perfect Loving Father who wants us to come to Him when we are restless. He wants to calm our bodies, minds, and spirits with His perfect answers. He loves us so much and sees the big picture, and while His answers may not be spelled out plainly (or quickly), He will always answer our prayers.  

Father Mike Schmitz tells the story of how he knew he wanted to be priest. He explained that he truly didn’t know until the day he was ordained. He said he just kept making daily prayers and saying a daily “Yes” to God. When he was debating joining a seminary, he just signed up because he felt it was what his heart was telling him was the right decision that day. When he completed his first year, he asked God that day and felt that because it was a good year he wanted to sign up for a second year. His daily “Yeses” continue to this day as he listens to what God is telling him to do, and that is what gives him restful feelings. He compared it to Mary just saying “Yes” to becoming the Mother of God that day, without really knowing or concerning herself with what would come after that.  

Give God your heart and questions. Let Him reveal the answers to you and give you peace. 

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Copyright 2025 Colleen Mallette
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