“Rest”
Over the last year, the Lord has been teaching me what it really means to “rest in Him”.
(By the way, it’s definitely not “rest” as in “take a day off and go to the spa, you deserve some rest” kind of “rest” –haha. Though nothing wrong with a day like that. ☺️)
I was thinking this morning about how the Lord does teach us how to fight, how to battle, and He teaches us that it’s not flesh and blood that we battle against.
But the Lord also teaches us to “rest” — to lean on, to let go, to hand it over, to let Him take it, to be calm, to be quiet, to confidently and expectantly “sit and wait” on Him — because we trust in Him.
It certainly doesn’t mean to struggle.
It certainly doesn’t mean to flail about. *note to self*
“rest” is: quiet, calmness, tranquility, peacefulness, serenity, stability <——— this is the result!
But it’s also this, and this is what it means to enter into this rest…
-to be placed or supported so as to stay in a specified position.
-place (something) so that it is supported in a specified position.
-be based on or grounded in; depend on.
-place hope, trust, or confidence on or in.
-belong or be located at a specified place or with a specified person.
Yes, this kind of “rest” is defined as a state of peace, but this is the result of entering into a kind of “rest” that is a state of dependence on Him — so much so that our burdens are lifted, the weight is lifted as we lean on Him, as we are under His wings.
He offers us this kind of “rest” in all circumstances.
Hebrews 4:1 says,
“Now, God has offered us the promise that we may receive that rest He spoke about. Let us take care, then, that none of you will be found to have failed to receive that promised rest.” (Good News Translation)
WOW. He doesn’t want us to miss out on this promise He has for us to receive His rest!
Why? Because not only is it a good thing, but it’s crucial in enduring all of the ups and downs in this life. He knows that in order to not be shaken, we have to be leaning on Him, dependent on His strength. Resting within the shelter and protection of His wings.
This has been eye-opening for me.
And there have been some circumstances where I have learned to “rest” while there are others I really struggle with –situations where I am tempted to “pace the floor” and “stressfully run some things through my mind” instead of leaning on my Father and entering into this promise of rest that He longs to give me – trusting in Him for all answers that I need.
I understand now why it’s said to, “enter into His rest” because we have to truly enter into it, we have to receive it, He invites us into that place of rest, and that’s when the peace will come. That’s when that supernatural stability will come. That’s when we’ll look around us, we may be surrounded in disaster and destruction, and yet we are still standing strong. Why? Because we are resting, we are leaning on the Lord and He is our strong foundation. He holds us up. Not in our own strength, but His.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” – Psalm 46:1-3
“Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace—because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.” – Isaiah 26: 3-4
–Heather ?