Rest

This is a simple task that God talks a lot about in the bible, yet most people don’t follow it. Having a day of rest is challenging and sometimes hard for people to commit to. Taking one day to sit around and relax almost seems impossible for most of us with families and demanding jobs. I sometimes have a hard time allowing myself time to just sit and be calm. Typically, it takes my husband telling me to stop and just sit down before I realize I need to take a break. I have tried getting better at it and this whole pandemic has allowed me some extra time to rest instead of running everywhere after work and getting my daughter to all her practices. We have been able to have more family time and it helped show me that most things are not important and we can do without them. Focusing on your family should be the main priority.

In the beginning when God made the world He allowed himself a day of rest. He created the Sabbath because making the world was a lot of work for him. He knew we would need to rest at least one day too. He gave himself six days to get plenty of work done, and took one full day of no work to allow himself to sit back and enjoy His creation.

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 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 (Genesis 2:2 [NIV]).

The Sabbath became one of the commandments in the Old Testament. After Jesus came and saved us, He turned it into more of a very important recommendation instead of a law. You won’t get in big trouble for not taking Sabbath but you will notice that you need a day to reconnect with God and allow your body to relax. As much as we like to brag about working all the time or say we are “machines” and can “handle anything” it’s not actually true. Our human bodies were not made that way. Our minds can try to trick us thinking were invincible but there is nothing you gain from of it. There is nothing you will get because you chose to work yourself harder than necessary. God didnt even work a week straight, what makes you think your human body should?

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30[NIV]).

I really love this verse. When I came across it one morning, it made my heart so happy. To know that we have a God that we can go to and He will take care of us is so refreshing. This verse reminds me of a time when I really needed rest. I was busy trying to figure out how to fix my situations when in reality I just needed to go to Him and allow Him to take my burdens while I rested. It took me some time but I ended up just resting and refocusing on what was important. The bible says that not only will we find rest in Him but our souls will find rest. Allowing your soul to rest is much bigger and better than just lying on the couch all day. You do need those days on the couch, don’t get me wrong. But how would you like to allow your soul to rest in God. That is life changing. No one on earth can give you that kind of rest. No one can show you that. You have to find that for yourself by going to God. He says that his yoke is easy and all we have to do is take it upon ourselves and know in our hearts that He is our savior.

Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him (Psalm 62:1[NIV]).

Not only do we need physical rest, but to truly find rest that is mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual can change our perspective on life. We can sit and rest in the fact that our salvation comes from Him alone. It does not come from anyone else. We don’t have to worry how our lives are going, where we will get food, or if we will get the house we want. He provides for us, everything in this world and everything we have is from Him. Stop thinking you have to be Superman and make things happen. God is in control and will allow things to fall exactly were he wants them. Find your resting place and allow God to meet you there.

Much Love,
Charity