All in Rest

In our service to the Lord do we ever find ourselves reaching the physical limit of our strength? Do we find ourselves exhausted and our desire to continue on waning? Well, this is not uncommon because there is a natural limit to what our earthly body, including our minds, can sustain before they must rest. When we approach this limit it is no surprise to God, and although He tells us to eat, drink, and rest, our minds often push us on towards our breaking point. Feeling guilty when we rest, or thinking that we have somehow been given superhuman ability by God, pushes us on and we ignore Him. Listen to the angels He sends, and hear Him in our dreams and visions. You are not unlike Elijah, and need to have your strength replenished… the journey is not over yet.

We sweat and toil in the light of day, and pray for the Lord’s hand to be upon us. We are heartbroken as we look down on the graves of our loved ones, and pray for God’s gentle embrace. We suffer the pain of wounds, or the discomfort of illness, and pray for our Father’s healing touch. Every day brings some concern, suffering, or trial, that leads us to pray, but for every hard day there comes a gentle night of rest… a time of peace, and the revelation of God’s wonder. We can’t see the stars and moon until the sun has set, and we can’t hear the song of night until the raucous uproar of day has subsided. Do we lift up our daily prayers and remain confident in them to bring us rest? God separates our days of tribulations with nights of stillness, and peace.

As Christians we are not immune to the high intensity 24x7 world we live in, but unlike those who are unbelievers, we have a very special relief from the sleeplessness, exhaustion, anxiety, and other negative repercussions of this amped up modern world. Our world is so expectant, and highly charged that it can harm our bodies and minds if we remain fully engaged in it, but Jesus promises us rest… are we taking advantage of it? Do we even know how?

As we serve the Lord we occasionally need to take a moment to be still, and collect our thoughts. We need to withdraw to a quiet place and wait patiently for Him to refresh us. From the silence of a mountain cave, we need to listen for our Father to speak. Sometimes we walk away to this place, but more often than not He drives us into the quiet of evening like a shepherd moving reluctant sheep to a safe pasture for the night… this is where the shepherd sings, talks, and plays His lyre for his flock. This is where God speaks quietly to us.

When we are unsettled and troubled during our days, and unable to sleep at night due to tossing and turning, where do we go for comfort; to whom do we turn for resolution, and rest? Are we tormented by sin? Is our soul uneasy due to our separation from God? Does God’s Will escape us? Or, are we simply unable to find the root of our discomfort; being unaware of what causes us to feel this way? Whatever the reason, and whether day or night, our soul can be calmed, and satisfied through an exploration of God’s Word, our leaning upon it, and through the good news of Jesus Christ as we meditate upon His life, death, resurrection, and promised return.