Rest is essential for our bodies to function well. Many Christians don’t
appreciate the value of resting or keeping the Sabbath day holy. Rest allows our
minds, bodies, souls and emotions to renew and become refreshed, like dew
which falls gently on new plants or grass. The Bible is filled with God´s promises
to provide rest, peace and strength when we need Him and seek Him.
We often quote Matt. 11:28-30 – “Come to Me, all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me,
(Jesus) 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.” When tired, we notice the
words “weary” and “rest” but there is a strong command in the beginning of
those verses – “COME!” We MUST come aside to Jesus and TAKE TIME in His
presence – that alone already removes stress and anxiety from us.
Hebrews 4:9-11 says, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of
God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God
did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that
no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Trying to enter
that rest means giving up time we make for other things that are not that
important, to set time aside to rest and to ignore the guilt that we should
actively be involved in doing, doing and doing more. There is a reason WHY
Christians take time to attend church on Sundays. It makes much sense to
spend time in Christ’s presence with others, to hear a good sermon, to make
notes and reflect and meditate on the teachings afterwards. Mark 2:27 states –
“Then He (Jesus) said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for
the Sabbath.
What do you normally do to rest? Often, when we are very tired; we just lie
down and sleep. But resting in Jesus means being quiet in His presence,
worshipping Him, reading His Word and listening to what He desires to tell us in
it. THAT is a huge remedy for exhaustion. Isaiah 26:3 says – “You will keep in
perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” It is
easy for our minds to wander, to worry, to be filled with anxiety and thoughts
which make us restless. “Perfect peace” is like medicine to the soul which leads
our minds to be steadfast, secure and strong. Peace in Jesus leads to trusting
Him in ALL things.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of
God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.” – Phil. 4:6-7
In Mark 6 we read how Jesus sent His disciples out to preach, teach and heal
the sick. They did so, and afterwards “The apostles gathered around Jesus and
reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people
were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said
to them, “COME WITH ME BY YOURSELVES TO A QUIET PLACE AND GET SOME
REST.” – Verses 30 and 31. Jesus knew the importance of going to quiet places
to pray and rest. How much more we need to spend time to be quiet in His
presence and REST so that our well-being can be renewed, recharged and
restored and made ready for fresh work for Him and His Kingdom!
Dearest Lord Jesus, please forgive me where I have not taken enough time to
come to You and REST, to glean strength from you when I am weak, to gain
renewed energy from Your sweet Presence. You told the Israelites what you tell
us today from Exodus 33:14 – ““My Presence will go with you, and I will give
you rest.” Thank You that all that is required from me is to come to You, spend
time with You and find the peaceful rest my body, mind and soul long for.
Myrtle Turunen