Rest. We all need it, but why is it so hard to rest? Why is it so hard to put everything down and take a break from the world? God talks about resting on the Sabbath, but what does that mean? Does it mean that we sit around watching TV (physical rest) or work in the yard (rest from a job) or spend time with God (spiritual rest)?
“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore, let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:9-11
I have been going through a few things this summer that brought this to my attention. One of those things is a family vacation where I can “rest” and the other is reading through a book, that was recommended to me by a friend, called The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer.
Our family vacation was awesome; it was fun to get away from our busy lives and do things outside the ordinary. This summer we took a road trip to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. We stayed on the beach with my family and my childhood friend and his family. There were eleven of us (my family) and seventeen of them (friend’s family) in two houses. We had a blast, but it was tiring.
What I realized is that the rest I experienced on my family vacation is great, but it is not a fulfilling rest. I still get tired, I still get grumpy, and I still need rest, even though I am not at my job, and I am not working. This is not the rest that God calls us to. He calls me to rest in Him so that He can fill me; it is the place to find true rest.
“Come to Me, all you 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.
We need to purposefully stop and spend time with our Heavenly Father. We need to get rid of our hurry and be purposeful to slow down and focus on God.
“Not only does hurry keep us from the love, joy, and peace of the kingdom of God – the very core of what all human beings crave – but it also keeps us from God himself simply by stealing our attention. And with hurry, we always lose more than we gain.” John Mark Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
“To walk with Jesus is to walk with a slow, unhurried pace. Hurry is the death of prayer and only impedes and spoils our work. It never advances it.” John Mark Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
This is not easy, but it is so worth it. I am so thankful that at Front Range Christian School we have chance to rest in God, to get away from work and to slow down. To listen and rest in God.
What does rest in God look like for you? It is hiking in His nature, fishing in a beautiful water, reading His Word, or just slowing down being quiet and listening to God? I pray that we all find a way to slow down and walk with Jesus to find true rest.
