What the Bible says on R E S T

I’m not sure when it became “normal” to spread yourself thin, put yourself on the back burner, and do everything for everyone and nothing for yourself. I’m here to tell you that it’s NOT cool and that we all need to rest.

As I’ve been diving into the word and seeking Jesus daily, I realize that all the amazing people God used (and continue to uses) for His glory are merely human. And what do we humans need? Ahh, rest.

As I study Elijah and discover God used Him in miraculous ways, I also noticed how Elijah too, needed rest. When I think of men and women in the Bible that God used, I think of them of almost supernatural in a way. So hungry for God, so obedient, so eager, and so willing. I often forget sometimes that all the people Jesus used were simply .. people.

Let’s dive into the word to see what it tells us about rest.

Genesis 2:2-3

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

WOW! Even Jesus Himself rested. God preached to us by example. He rested on the seventh day to show us we too need rest.

Mark 6:31

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Jesus is speaking to his disciples in this verse. The Lord gave them the ability to go and heal others all for His glory. The disciples were so busy they didn’t even have time to eat. After returning to Jesus and telling Him all that they had done, Jesus tells them to go and rest. How amazing is that? That the Lord we serve knows that we need to recharge and replenish our flesh because we do have shortcoming. Because we are human. Jesus knows this and loves us so much that he clearly tell his disciples to find a quiet place and rest. Thank you Jesus.

Psalm 4:8

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Have you even been in a position where you’re so busy, stressed, or anxious that you can’t sleep? Jesus tells us we can lie down and sleep because HE IS OUR LORD. Our peace resides in Him. Not things of this world not the people in it. But in Him and Him alone.

Psalm 46-10

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Sometimes the hardest thing to do is nothing at all. For example: have you ever been working out and the exercise requires a hold ? A plank for instance. I would rather do a 100 yard sprint than hold a one minute plank. Why? Because not moving is hard! Sitting still is hard! It’s uncomfortable and challenging. And we as human don’t like being uncomfortable. We want to be good at things. We don’t want to look like beginners or fail repeatedly. We just want to be good. The Lord tells us to be still. Simply trust Him.

The reason I chose this topic to write about is because we live in a world now where everything is so fast. We’re all chasing the weekend, or a paycheck or the next best thing that we miss out on the now. Since strengthening my relationship with God I’ve been reminded that no amount of worrying or restless night will change my outcome. God determines my future.

I’ve spent many years trying to hold tight to relationships, jobs, or ideas of myself that I thought I wanted. It wasn’t until I let go and let the Lord use me for His kingdom that I found true happiness and peace. God is so good y’all. He will truly make your cup run over. He will hear your prayers and see the desires of your heart and bless you more than you thought was possible. I’m saying this because I know.

I’m thankful for the unanswered prayers. I’m thankful for the closed doors and the broken friendships. I’m thankful for the breakups that i thought were the end of the world at the time. Because it led me to my current life. Which is MORE than i ever could have imagined.

I need rest constantly. With school, work, a home, my marriage, and motherhood, I get tired. My flesh is weak but oh sister let me tell you, my spirit is strong. Pray to God for strength. Ask Him to give you the ability to rest. When I first attempted trying to “stop” it was difficult. If I wasn’t going a million miles per hour I felt like I was a slacker. That’s the devil trying to steal your joy. I read a quote that said, “if the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy.” Yikes. When I’m so busy with life, the last thing i do is pick up my Bible. And then before i know it, it’s been a few days since I read the Word. So don’t let all the hustle steal your joy. READ HIS WORD. It will strengthen you. Renew you. Refresh you. Revive you!!

We are living in the last days. We know this. All we can do is guard our hearts, read His word, love one another, and REST. I want to end this post in a prayer. And I hope this is a blessing to you and your spirit.

Lord, I come before you tired, depleted, and hungry for more of You. You formed me in my mother’s womb Lord. You know me and you know my heart. You’ve seen me at my lowest and you still choose me. Give me the strength to run this race called life. Give me the wisdom and strength to do what You have called me to do. I am simply a vessel Lord and I pray you use me for your glory Lord. Allow me the proper rest so i can renew my strength to continue my calling. All these things in Jesus name, Amen.