Finding Rest. . .

Sunday is supposedly a day of rest. I’m thinking that it isn’t always. Some people must work or lose their job. Pastors and church leaders might be ‘resting on the inside’ but they are not idle. In our church with a massive crowd for brunch each week, the volunteers who prepare the food and those who set up, and those who clean up are busy working. We also have friends that see needs and their mantra is, “I’ve got to do something” regardless of the day.

Some time ago God used a word search to enrich this passage:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

There are two ‘burdens’ in these verses. The first is ‘heavy laden’ and the original Greek word refers to a large cargo that is by no means easy to carry. The second one is translated from a different Greek word and basically refers to the invoice that is attached to the cargo.

The contrast is evident; when Jesus wants me to do something, it will not wear me to the bone but be relatively easy. Why? Because when it is from Him and done in reliance upon Him, the Holy Spirit is involved and while my efforts may require muscle, they will not be wearisome. I will not feel like I’ve been carrying a big load.

Piper quotes Lamentations 3:22–23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Then he adds, “With every day’s measure of pain, he gives new mercies. . . .  God’s mercies are new every morning because each day has enough mercy in it only for that day. This is why we tend to despair when we think that we may have to bear tomorrow’s load on today’s resources. God wants us to know that we won’t. Today’s mercies are for today’s troubles. Tomorrow’s mercies are for tomorrow’s troubles.”

Isn’t that true? Instead of being concerned with today’s invoice, I can get overloaded with tomorrow’s to-do list. I can worry if I don’t know what to expect, or if I think my burden will weigh more than my time or energy can handle. It is easy to forget that Jesus isn’t into letting His people carry more than we can handle — like two day’s problems in one day, or tomorrow’s issues all night, both robbers of energy and forgetting the lessons from manna in the wilderness. (Exodus 16)

Jesus supplies what I need for today. This is not only a day of rest but a day of worship and fellowship with His family. He will fill my heart with joyful worship as long as I kick out plans for the afternoon, or what to have for supper, or what is on my calendar for Monday, or all next week’s responsibilities. He wants me to experience the delight of His faithfulness and new mercies on this day and entrust tomorrow and the future to Him, including the future of what is going on in this world, what is lacking, how many family members we have that have not yet said yes to Him, or anything else that piles a burden on my mind. Focus on Him is incredibly restful.

PRAY: Jesus, I get tired when I take on a burden that is not from You. Or when I try to deal with obligations that are not going to hit me until next week. Planning ahead isn’t wrong, but letting the future become a burden indicates I’m not listening to You and definitely not resting in You. Forgive me. This kind of thinking is fleshy and sinful. Today I come to learn from You and to rest — with just the invoice.

 

A Day of Rest

 

This week was filled with busyness to the degree I’ve felt overwhelmed most days. Yesterday we went on a picnic with four refugee families and some of their supporters. These families come from a culture that knows when to take a break, to rest. In our culture, working, being busy, going and doing is almost an idol. Sometimes those who sit and do nothing are scorned as lazy when maybe they have been listening to the Lord who said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)

This verse comes from a passage that says something similar:

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9–11)

While the rest here seems more a spiritual rest from our own efforts rather than a physical effort from hard work, the two are related. Am I busy, busy, busy because Jesus called me to do all that I do? Or does some of that to-do list come from personal ambition, a sense of duty, or a work ethic based on human expectations rather than God’s voice urging me to be diligent?

Kenneth Osbeck in his book “Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions” quotes John Wesley, an evangelist of the 18th century who said Christians must “learn to live with a slack rein.” This expression is from a man who rode a horse from place to place. I know the idea of a slack rein; it is trusting the horse to take you where you are going without being guided or told what to do.

The slack rein illustrates trusting God. I don’t need to tell Him what to do, or guide Him, or be anxious that He will take me where He does not want me to go. Not only that, I trust His ‘gait’ that He is not going to go too fast or stop without reason.

God’s people get battle weary spiritually, and totally exhausted physically. We need times of relaxation, rest, and renewal to prevent burn-out while engaged in serving the Lord and serving others. Sometimes God needs to initiate that rest by putting us flat out. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:2)

Far better to stop and evaluate. Is my to-do list too much because I am not listening, not trusting the Lord? Am I frantic with the idea that ‘something must be done’ or ‘I must do something’ that God has not commanded? Am I am trying to meet needs without His direction? His sheep hear His voice . . .

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. (Isaiah 32:17)

Resting in Jesus is important. I need to practice daily rest — that total trust regardless of life’s pressures and circumstances. This rest is now, not ‘I wasn’t always this busy’ and it is a conscious choice to relax, enjoy God’s presence, and give my worries, conflicts, and choices to Him. Instead of praying, “What do You want me to do?” I need to take time to pray in worshipful thanksgiving that He is taking care of His world, His people, and my concerns. When I give them to Him, I must not take them back.

The title of the song featured in Osbeck’s book begins with its first four words:

Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart. Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, and Thy beauty fills my soul, for by Thy transforming power Thou hast made me whole.

Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, I behold Thee as Thou art, and Thy love, so pure, so changeless, satisfies my heart—Satisfies its deepest longings, meets, supplies its ev’ry need, compasseth me round with blessings. This is love indeed!

Ever lift Thy face upon me as I work and wait for Thee. Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus, earth’s dark shadows flee. Brightness of my Father’s glory, sunshine of my Father’s face, keep me ever trusting, resting; fill me with Thy grace. (Jesus, I am Resting, Resting, Jean Sophia Pigott, 1845–1882)

PRAY: Lord, this is why You gave us the Sabbath, a day of rest where we can give all our burdens to You in worship and praise, knowing that You are taking us where we need to go and desire to restore our energy with Your love and power. Thank You for this musical reminder, but even more for the truth that You do give us rest — calling us to Yourself and away from the weariness of spiritual work and warfare. Forgive me for not listening to that call as often as You give it.

PONDER: Read Psalm 119. Which thoughts are compatible with being at rest?