Rest is in the nature of God, and He has made it to be an integral part of our nature as well. Interestingly, while we are designed to need rest, God still chose to specify in the Old and the New Testament the need to rest. He knew that our flesh naturally will gravitate towards busyness and restlessness! God enjoys rest, and He wants us to partake of His rest!
Imagine that you are a billionaire and your daughter is getting married. How would you go about planning her wedding? Where would you draw the boundary line for the number of guests, the cost of venue, the price of dinner, and a whole host of other decisions you need to make? How much is enough?
Our creative and powerful God chose to only create for six days, and that was enough! He had the resources of heaven and earth to do more, but He stopped on the seventh day and chose to be pleased with everything he created in the first six days.
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Hebrews 4:8-10
Rest (according to Strong’s Concordance): a putting to rest, calming of the winds, a resting place
Cease (according to Strong’s Concordance in Greek): to make quiet, to cause to be at rest, to grant rest, to lead to a quiet abode, to still, restrain, to cause (one striving to do something)
Are there any winds in your life that prohibit you from being at rest today? Do you lose your rest when you see someone more capable than you that causes strife in your heart? Is it the wind of financial instability that makes you anxious about your life? Is it the challenge of parenting that keeps you awake at night wondering how to help your child succeed in school?
There are always plenty of opportunities to get anxious and restless. However, we need to remind ourselves that the Lord is already aware of the situation and take it to Him. If our rest remains circumstantial, we will never enter the true peace that God has for us!
According to the above scripture, God has the gift of rest as a nice package available for us. In order to truly open this package and enjoy what is inside it, there is one requirement, and that’s ceasing from our own work! That means we restrain our abilities, cleverness, and ingenuity, and we choose to STOP! We speak to our soul, and we tell it, “Enough is enough! Let the chips fall where they may. My soul, you’re not touching this anymore. This is good enough. The rest is in God’s hands.” When we truly give things over to the Lord and trust Him, His rest floods our souls.
Are we willing to say enough is enough? Are we willing to work hard and do everything we need to do, and then rest on the seventh day? This rest is not just resting from activities, but it is resting our minds, emotions, and will from all subtle temptations to do more, plan more, or contribute more. Is there something that you need to cease from doing today? Give it over to the Lord, so you can enter His rest!