Resting even when working…

Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.’ As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ” (Hebrews 3:6–11)

The opposite of rest is striving, working, trying harder, anxious in heart, anything that has no tranquility or a relaxed and joyful attitude. It can mean doing nothing, but when I am busy yet enjoying what I’m doing, I’m at rest.

That said, the rest spoken of here is the way I feel when I am trusting God and obedient to what He is telling me. It might be a nap or ceasing from work, but it is more than that on the inside. It is trusting that He is in control of every concern and all I need to do is whatever He says. It might be a simple chore as emptying the dishwasher or doing the laundry, but without resentment or wishing I could be doing something else. It might be pulling weeds and sweating but with joy in my heart.

Knowing God's ways is about realizing He wants the best for me, not stressed because I’ve rejected or am annoyed by my circumstances. It is like my mother’s words: “We must need it or we wouldn’t be getting it.” She also stated, “I’ve been through a lot; I can handle this too” yet we knew it was the Lord’s doing that she was so content, so at rest.

Those who stew over life like the Israelites in the wilderness are said to be hard-hearted, which could be translated “made stubborn.” This carries the idea that they knew what God wanted but stubbornly insisted on their own way. Many still live and even pray that way, telling God what they want without any sign of “not my will but thine be done.” However, entering into rest requires that kind of humble submission. 

A huge example is on my other computer screen. It says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (1 Corinthians 12:9) My ego does not want to be weak, yet the power of God eludes me, as does His rest, if I insist on feeling and acting in my own strength. To complicate this, I may feel the weakness but other people see the Lord’s strength. It takes faith to be at rest, not walking by sight.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14–16)

Christ shines in humility and If I am stubborn, I hide the light of Christ. If I welcome weakness, He shines and people give Him the glory. Oh how different His ways are from our ways!

Jesus, this is rest; not stressing about my weaknesses, not boasting or trying to live by any strength I might think I have, but yielding to Your will in all of life, no matter what I want, but resting in Your magnificent will, trusting You with everything, and being at peace.