Rest: a Gift from God
Are you weary? Tired? Unmotivated?
Are you feeling this is a terrible way to begin a new year?
Take a minute to evaluate your sense of resting well, of being rested. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being exhausted, 10 being consistently well rested and refreshed. Are you a 1, a 5 or a 10? Is this is a consistent reality, or occasional, as a 1 or 10 or in between?
Hold on to that number—it will be helpful.
Why do we rest?
God rested and has given us a gift of rest.
Exodus 20:11: “For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested.”
Do you think God needed to rest? No, but He knew we did.
God knows we need rest: God said to Moses in Exodus 16:29: “They must realize that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to you.”
A weekly day of rest, and the means to rest the remainder of the week. He gifts rest to us.
We know we need rest: Isaiah 40:30: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall….”
Our bodies need rest: We work and toil and grow weary. Recall a recent time when your body was weary.
Our minds need rest: Thinking, talking, planning, managing life can be as exhausting as physical work.
Our souls need rest: Psalm 42:11: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
How do we rest?
We walk in the good way: Jeremiah 6:16: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.
We sleep: Psalm 4:8: In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
We take a day off: That’s what Sabbath is—one day week. Plus sleep throughout the week. And I also try to take several days away occasionally to spend extended focused time with the Lord. And to rest.
We live in the presence of God: Exodus 33:14: The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
We walk in the Spirit: Isaiah 63:14: “…they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.”
We pray: I love this verse: Isaiah 62:7: “You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” So we don’t rest from prayer, and we keep asking and knocking
We give thanks: Philippians 4: 6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
This is my consistent go to—giving thanks.
We discover our places of rest. I consistently find rest in a book, at the beach, on a horse, or with my grandchildren. Your “places of rest” may be quite different, but take time to notice where you can rest.
What happens when we rest?
We grow in Christlikeness: Jesus wasn’t in a hurry. When he grew weary, he got away by himself, with the Father. Then he was able to again engage the people.
We enjoy sweet fellowship with God and with others: 1 Chronicles 22:18: “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subject to the Lord and to his people.
We are able to do the work God has given us: We can do it with Spirit energy, wisdom, creativity, perseverance. Not in our own strength.
We see the fruit of God’s calling for us: Psalm 128:2: “You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.”
Psalm 16:5-11: “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely, I have a delightful inheritance. “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure…You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Yes, we may get weary, especially in times of much work and many challenges. God invites us to let him carry those burdens.
Imagine your burdens right now. In your head, on your shoulders, in time pressures. Take them in your hands and offer them to him.
In exchange he will give you: strength, fruit of your labor, wisdom, energy, security, the right path, joy, peace—REST.
What about you? What is your “rest number.” Could some of these realities help move it closer to a “10”?
C2022 Judy Douglass