Unwrapping Rest

Sometimes what we call waiting on God is wisdom. Sometimes it’s patience. But sometimes… it’s fear.
In this episode of Unwrapping Rest, Dawn Tolbert explores the difference between faithful waiting and hesitation disguised as spirituality. Through the experiences of Gideon and Jonah, she shares how God is patient with fearful hearts—but often invites us to move forward with courage rather than wait for one more sign.
If you’ve been praying, delaying, and wondering whether you need more confirmation or simply courage for the next step, this episode is for you.
Peace may not come before the step. It may meet you in it.

What does it mean to “raise an Ebenezer”?
In today’s episode of Unwrapping Rest, we pause to reflect on a phrase many of us have sung for years without fully understanding: “Here I raise my Ebenezer.” Drawing from 1 Samuel 7, this episode explores the biblical meaning of Ebenezer—a stone of remembrance set up to testify, “Till now, the Lord has helped us.”
Before we rush ahead into a new season, Scripture invites us to stop, look back, and remember God’s faithfulness. Together, we reflect on why remembering matters, how it strengthens our trust for what lies ahead, and what it might look like to raise our own “stones of remembrance” today.
If you’re listening while feeling weary, uncertain, or reflective, this quiet episode is an invitation to pause and give thanks for God’s help—past, present, and future.
To stay connected and receive reflections, updates, and encouragement straight to your inbox, you can join my mailing list at DawnTolbert.com.
Thank you for being here. I hope this episode gives your heart a little breathing room and reminds you that you don’t walk this road alone.

As we stand at the beginning of a new year, this Mini Moment invites us to pause and anchor ourselves in ancient truth.
Drawing from Lamentations 3, we reflect on what it means to call truth to mind—and to choose hope, even when circumstances feel uncertain or heavy. These verses remind us that God’s mercies are new every morning, His faithfulness does not fail, and waiting quietly on the Lord is a posture Scripture calls good.
Recorded at the close of 2025 and released as we enter 2026, this short reflection offers space to breathe, remember, pray, and step forward resting—not striving.
Whether you’re feeling expectant, weary, or somewhere in between, you are invited to join me in remembering, waiting, returning to hope, and trusting the God who meets us with new mercy each day.
Scripture featured: Lamentations 3:21–26, 40–41 (ESV)
If you’d like to receive the Light Dawns devotional by email or find more hope-filled resources, visit DawnTolbert.com and sign up for the email list.

When life feels out of control and the waves are closing in, where do you turn? In this episode of Unwrapping Rest, Dawn Tolbert shares a vivid dream that mirrors the Apostle Peter’s storm-tossed moment on the Sea of Galilee. Together, we’ll look at what happens when we take our eyes off Jesus—and how His steady hand reaches out the moment we cry, “Lord, save me.”
Through Peter’s story in Matthew 14, Dawn invites weary, striving hearts to fix their focus on the One who brings peace in every storm. If you’ve been longing for rest, hope, and renewed faith, this episode will remind you that you’re never alone—Jesus still meets us right where we are.
 
🌿 SHOW NOTES
Scripture: Matthew 14:22–33
Main Theme:When the storms of life rise, Jesus meets us right where we are. Like Peter on the water, we learn to fix our eyes on Him—the only true source of hope, peace, and rest.
Key Takeaways:• Look for Jesus even when things feel beyond hope.• When God calls, respond in faith and move toward Him.• Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus rather than the waves.• When fear pulls you under, cry out, “Lord, save me,” and trust His steady hand.
Encouragement to Reflect:Ask yourself: Where have I taken my eyes off Jesus this week? How can I refocus on His presence and peace?
Resources & Links:• 💻 Read the full reflection on the blog → dawntolbertwrites.com• 📖 Learn more in I’d Rather Die Than Obey — a Bible study on Jonah’s journey and God’s relentless grace → dawntolbertwrites.com/store (use code PODCAST10 to save 10%)• 🙏 Need prayer or want to talk? Reach out at dawn @ dawntolbertwrites.com —I’d love to pray with you.

When life pulls us in a hundred directions, it’s easy to get swept up in the noise, hurry, and pressure to do more. But in this Mini Moment, we slow down, breathe, and let Scripture remind us of what matters most.
Join me as we pause with Matthew 6:25–33, reflect on the distractions that pull our eyes away from God’s kingdom, and pray together for a heart aligned with His purposes.
Whether you’re in the middle of your day or winding down, this brief episode is a chance to exhale and remember that our Heavenly Father knows our needs and invites us to seek Him first.

What do you do when your goals start to feel more like burdens than blessings?
In this episode, Dawn shares how a doctor's appointment and a midyear reset quickly became a twelve-item to-do list that left her feeling overwhelmed instead of hopeful. It's a struggle many of us know well: the desire to become healthier, more productive, and more faithful can quietly turn into striving.
Using the R.E.S.T. framework, Dawn explores how Scripture invites us to exchange performance for relationship, evaluate life in light of eternity, surrender the pressure to prove ourselves, and trust the Living Hope instead of our own plans.
If your planner has started defining your peace, this conversation is a gentle reminder that hope isn't something you achieve—it's someone you know.
In this episode you'll discover:
Why good goals can still lead to striving.
How the R.E.S.T. framework redirects our hearts toward Christ.
Why your identity is never determined by your productivity.
What it looks like to find hope beyond an unfinished to-do list.

The world is designed to compete for our attention, and our phones often sit at the center of that battle.
In this episode, Dawn shares how a simple decision to switch her smartphone to grayscale became more than a productivity hack—it became a spiritual practice. By removing the bright colors that constantly compete for attention, she discovered a gentle reminder to pause, be present, and turn her focus back to Christ.
Recorded during the season of Lent, this conversation invites us to consider how even small changes can help create more room for stillness, prayer, and the kind of rest that comes from fixing our eyes on Jesus instead of the endless stream of notifications.
In this episode you'll discover:
Why our devices are designed to capture our attention.
How grayscale became a daily reminder to be still.
A simple practice you can try today to reduce digital distraction.
How God can use ordinary habits to draw our hearts back to Him.

As this new year dawns ahead of us, my over-planner heart is really tempted to kick into high gear. But the truth is simple. God isn’t interested in me having a firmer grip on my life; in fact, he wants me to let go and trust him. Today let’s explore what it means to Trust in the Trustworthy One.

When life feels uncertain, our first instinct is often to protect ourselves. We make plans, work harder, or try to control the outcome. But Scripture offers a different invitation: to take refuge in the God who is our Shield.
In this episode, Dawn shares a memorable dream that became a powerful reminder of God's protection and explores what it really means to trust Him in the middle of life's battles. Through passages from Psalms, 2 Corinthians, and Romans, she reflects on prayer, God's sustaining presence, and the promise that we never face hardship alone.
Whether you're walking through a difficult season or simply longing to rely on God more deeply, this episode offers encouragement to lay down self-reliance and rest in the One who faithfully cares for His children.
In this episode you'll discover:
What Scripture means when it describes God as our Shield.
Why trusting God doesn't guarantee an easy path—but does promise His presence.
How prayer becomes an act of dependence instead of self-reliance.
The comfort of knowing the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, even when we don't know what to pray.