Come and rest

 

Have you ever felt worn out from the waves of life that move you from side to side? 

Do you ever wish to just stop for a second and rest? 

God rested on the seventh day, after He had completed His work. (Genesis 2:2)

Even Jesus rested as well. During His ministry, there were so many people to minister to, that His disciples could not eat. So, Jesus said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31) 

 

 

If God and Jesus rested, shall we not rest as well? Made in God’s image, we are designed to take a rest.

Rest is important! God wants us to rest. ‘He makes us lie down in green pastures; He leads us beside quiet waters.’ (Psalm 23:2)

It is when we rest, God restores our soul and guides us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3)

 

 

Our most important and impactful decisions, come from resting in God.

That is why the Lord is always beckoning us to rest. The LORD says to us, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden 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.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

 

 

And it is not hard coming to the LORD for rest because He is gentle and humble in Spirit. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. 

Some of us stay up at night, anxious of the future. Yet, the Word of God says that He gives His children good sleep.

 

 

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. (Proverbs 3:24)

 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8)

 

I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me. (Psalm 3:5)

 

It is vain for you to rise up early, to retired late, to eat the bread of painful labours; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep. (Psalm 127:2)

 

How comforting for us that the LORD watches over us even when we sleep. As humans, we are created to sleep at night! So, get enough hours of sleep.

 

 

But what if the anxieties fill our mind?

Do not worry. The LORD is near you and me! (Philippians 4:5b) Because He cares for us, we can cast all our anxiety on Him. (1 Peter 5:7) Hence, we do not need to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, we can present our every request to God. (Philippians 4:6)

And when we surrender all our cares to Him, His peace that transcends all understanding will rest on us. This peace will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

 

 

Sometimes, we do not take rest because we worry that our life will turn chaotic if we do. That is why resting takes faith in God. We need to trust that when we obey God to rest, He will take care of our business. 

The LORD told the Israelites to work six days and rest on the seventh day, that even during plowing and harvest time, they shall rest. (Exodus 34:21)

Hence, even though our work may call us, we are called to rest in God. Resting is obedience to God’s Word! Resting takes discipline. 

 

 

Even so, do you know that resting is possible during work? It may seem paradoxical, yet very possible.

We can rest during work, when we remain in God’s Presence! The LORD says to us, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)

Do not let your busyness rob your rest in God. Remember God’s Presence makes us rest.

 

 

So, take a deep breath, come as you are to God – weary and heavy-laden – and find rest being in His Presence.

May we all find rest in our mind, heart, body, soul, and spirit.

 

What a friend we have in Jesus!

 

| Share the Good News |