Do you struggle to find peace? Are you weary and in need of rest? Would you like to discover the benefits of resting in God? Then join us below as we discover how YOU can benefit from finding rest in Him!
What is Rest?
The word “rest” is found hundreds of times within the Word of God, yet, what exactly does rest mean?
Well, while “resting in God” has a much deeper meaning when we explore the Word, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “rest” in general means:
- repose, sleep
- freedom from activity or labor; a state of motionlessness or inactivity; the repose of death
- a place for resting or lodging
- peace of mind or spirit
- a rhythmic silence in music; a character representing such a silence; a brief pause in reading
- something used for support
Further, to be “at rest” means:
- resting, reposing
- motionless
- free of anxieties
And these are merely the noun usages! The verb usages, while similar, include aspects of, “refraining from labor,” “to remain confident, trust,” “to be free from anxiety,” etc.
When we choose to be at rest—to rest in God—we cease to labor in ourselves. We utilize the support God so willingly bestows, and we become free from anxiety and worry. It is a state of trust, even faith, where we give things over to God and believe that He has everything under control. It is essentially a state of peace and a deep, true relationship founded in love and trust. Rest allows Godly freedom. It allows relationship with the great I AM!
Rest in Him
So, we have discovered some of the meanings of rest and being at rest—in the world, and in God—but what does it truly mean to rest in God? What does the Word say about it?
Well, there is no one blanket answer. God is infinite in nature, and even something as simple as resting in Him could take us a lifetime to truly scratch the surface. Yet, that is not to say that we cannot begin to understand or walk in that rest. After all, we have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to guide us.
And, the Word, for our study here, is the best place to begin, as it tells us directly the will of God and the reasons and benefits of resting in Him.
One of the Ten Commandments—the fourth—instructs us to remember the Sabbath, or day of rest, and keep it holy (see Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5)… just as God kept the seventh day as a holy day of rest for Himself after the six days of creation. And, as one of the Ten Commandments, He instituted a place of unique importance in that rest for us. By placing rest as a mandatory instruction in our walk with Him, it is hardly something we should be disgruntled with. After all, without it, we cannot function well or long…
“Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.”—Leviticus 23:3
We were created with a need to rest. A need to seek God and delight in Him; so He can restore and renew us. The Sabbath rest that He requires is not merely to give us physical rest, nor even to worship Him—though both are meant to be found there. Instead it provides us with a spiritual renewing. It allows relationship with God and even with our families. It is a time of restoration that takes us back to a place of intimacy with our Creator—as Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the day.
And because God commands us to rest in Him—not only on the Sabbath, but always—when we do, we are blessed. We are blessed not only with renewing and restoration, relationship and covenant renewal, but also with Salvation. For it is through honoring God and His commandments that we align ourselves with Him and His Kingdom, allowing us to take full advantage of His Salvation, Name, and very Blood!
Often it is easy for us in this busy world to lose sight of rest. Even rest such as sleep. Yet, God’s Word reminds us over and over again to rest in Him. He will show us how to rest in Him in our busiest of seasons and our quietest… we just have to seek Him, ask Him, and we will find Him. We will find rest in Him.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”—Matthew 11:29
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him…”—Psalm 37:7
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.” —Romans 15:13; Psalm 16:9
Walk the Walk
We each were created with a need for rest, just as we were created with a need to fulfill a purpose—a purpose only satisfied by serving God’s Kingdom. God created everything and then He rested, yet, He did not do so merely for Himself, but for us. He created us knowing we needed rest, and to rest in Him, and so, long before He gave us the Ten Commandments—and the law of Sabbath rest—He demonstrated to us the need for rest. He allowed us a commanded rest where, even as the world moves on, we can rest without condemnation. We can delight in Him and be restored, strengthened, renewed, and given a time and place to grow in Him. To build relationship.
Rest, however, is a choice. We can choose to keep our thoughts on all the things we have to do. Every care or worry. Or we can choose to obey the loving instruction of God to rest. We can gain the blessings of relationship, restoration, and even Salvation. We can come closer, draw nearer, go deeper… and discover the beauty of a God who not only created us, but loves us. All this by simply choosing to accept His rest—by setting our thoughts on things above and giving Him precedence.
God desires relationship with us, and by resting in Him, we build it up.
We come to the King of kings and Lord of lords and develop our character. Growing to be like Him.
We allow ourselves renewal. The ability to create as He would have us. To gain Godly insights, ideas, and strategies.
We can become more like Him, resting in Him and thereby entering a peace beyond earthly understanding. Giving us the strength and character to not only run the race, but cross the finish line in power!
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”—Hebrews 12:1-2
