Rest

Live strong!

There are some of us who live tired. We want more energy. We want to feel more alive, but we trudge along doing the next thing and the next until we fall into bed at night.

Dear friends, that is NOT how God wants us to live. This very issue is addressed throughout the Bible. Let’s analyze a bit.

Why do we get tired?

  1. We have too much to do. A wise person once said to me, “You have enough time today to do everything God wants you to do.” I understood at once: If I feel too much time pressure, it may be because I have something on my “to do” list that God didn’t put there. I’ve learned to ask him every day to help me adjust my priorities to his. (Matthew 6:25-34)
  2. We’re anxious, stressed. Stress is a huge drain on our energy, and it can become a habit. As followers of Christ, we have to realize that living in anxiety is an affront to Jesus who said he would give us peace that passes understanding and that he would provide for us as he does the lilies of the field. At times maybe we have to be content just to wait on God, his timing, his will. (Isaiah 40:31)
  3. We’re trying too hard. I’m learning that if I’m working hard so others will approve of what I do, I’m working from the center of ego – and that is exhausting. If, on the other hand, I work from the center of pleasing God, I am strengthened. Why? Because of Christ, God is pleased already. I don’t have to try so hard to earn his smile. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Let’s learn to live our best, strong, energized lives by leaning on God at every turn.

” I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” Jeremiah 31:25

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Peace. Rest.

“Peace and rest belong not to the unregenerate, they are the peculiar possession of the Lord’s people, and of them only.” – Charles Spurgeon

Peace. The angels announced it, Christmas cards call for it, and nations of the world seek it. We want it, too, don’t we? Peace in our hearts. Calmness. Quiet. Rest.

But peace seems to be hard to come by these days. Wars between nations, terrorism, violence in our cities and towns, internal turmoil, restlessness, anxiety, hurry, sleeplessness. I thought about all that.

Then, in the early hours of the day, I read the quote by Charles Spurgeon that you see above. Peace is a special gift reserved for the people of God. The world will not have peace until Jesus returns as King. People who don’t know the Prince of Peace will never be able to find peace on their own. It just doesn’t happen.

But what about those of us who know and follow Jesus? He said this to his disciples as he prepared them for his arrest, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). The peace we need is not something we can find on our own, either. It’s supernatural, and it comes only from relationship with Jesus.

Peace is ours as a free gift and takes root day-by-day as we make him the priority of our lives. As we learn to think as he thinks. As we absorb all that he taught. As we talk to him about everything.

Peace is the gift he gives in return for our devotion to him – a feeling completely out of sync with the rest of the world: Unexplainable peace. Extraordinary gift.

“My people shall dwell in quiet resting places.” – Isaiah 32:18

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Tired?

“I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” – Jeremiah 31:25

My friend told me that when she was a new believer, she had a hunger for God’s Word and studied it daily. One day, after all four kids were off to school and her husband to the office, she opened her Bible and couldn’t focus. She decided to pray instead, asking God for direction. She heard his instruction as clearly as if he was speaking out loud: “Take a nap.”

So she did. Twenty minutes later, she awoke refreshed and then was able to read her Bible with focus and understanding.

Sometimes we expect too much of ourselves, forgetting that we live with fleshly bodies and active minds that get tired. They require rest, refreshment, and renewal. Even Jesus, when living on earth, needed to get away at time to rest and pray.

What is your deepest need today? Is it for an answer to prayer? Keep praying, but rest awhile, too. Is it energy for a new responsibility? Take it on only if you sense God’s clear direction to do so. Don’t over busy yourself outside of his perfect will for you. You may be accepting a role he has already assigned to someone else, and your jumping in would get in the way of his will for their lives.

There are days when our deepest need may be for rest – for our bodies and our souls. When you sense that is true, remember Jesus’ invitation, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).

“Rest time is not wasted time. It is economy to gather fresh strength… It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.” – Charles Spurgeon