How To Find Rest

Life in the twenty-first century is hectic and it has us all running around constantly in a hurry. When the age of technology was about to break out of its infancy, we were promised that thanks to computer technology, we would soon have so much leisure time on our hands that life would become a breeze. Oh, how that was a lie. We live a frenetic life style that has stressed us out beyond measure. By the end of our days, we are exhausted. Even our vacations are not things of rest, yet that was the purpose they were implemented for. Thanks to smart phones, people never get a respite from the pressures of work, as they bring work with them through their phones. Thanks to smart phones, we are subjected to a constant barrage of tragic news. Thanks to our smart phones, we simply don’t take much time to simply sit in solitude. Instead, we stare at something that never stops pushing stimuli into our brains. No wonder we are exhausted.

For those of us who are Christ’s, there is an answer. Stop. It was never God’s desire for His people to run themselves into the ground. God feels so strong about this type of behavior that He addressed it in the Ten Commandments.

Exodus 20:8-9
 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor, and do all your work.”

As New Testament Christians, we are not “under” the law. The Ten Commandments are, however, the basis of God’s moral law, which are still the basis of how we are to live life. Just this past Sunday, my pastor mentioned the Sabbath as the only one of the ten that we are not technically bound to and that is a correct statement in a literal sense. But Jesus told us that He didn’t come to abolish the law, He came to fulfill it. And in Jesus is found the fulfillment of the sabbath. He is our sabbath. In Him we find rest.

Hebrews 4:9-10
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

Because Jesus went to the cross and died in our place, we can rest from the concept of working for our salvation. We no longer must try and follow the law of Moses to attain righteousness that might save us from God’s wrath. Thus, the first point of this rest in Christ, is that our salvation and our eternal destination is attained by His work. That work is complete.

But there is more to this rest that we can lay hold of. We can now rest in our faith in God that through Christ, we are now in the family of God.

Romans 8:16-17
The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

If we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified with Him. There is a rest in Jesus that we need to lay hold of. We are now God’s children and that makes us heirs of His promises to take care of us and provide for our needs. Listen to what Jesus says to those who are His.

Matthew 6:25-32
 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?  And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,  yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

Jesus has just removed any concern we might have over how we will be fed and clothed. He has commanded us not to be anxious over these things. Instead of being anxious over the necessities of life, He gives us this command.

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

He also explains how to deal with the tiredness that comes through our work, be it at home or the office.

Matthew 11:28-30
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.

Leave the stress of work and home, at the foot of the cross and trust in Jesus to be the one who helps you through it all. To be yoked with Him means He is right there pulling the load alongside you, but by yoking yourself with Him, the load becomes easier. This is faith. This is trusting in the very one who gives you breath.

As to the sorrows of the world that break our hearts and bring us down? Again, have faith in God to handle them. Search the scriptures and you will find that God is still in control and He will take care of things.

Are you angry at someone and long for revenge?

Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

God has this. Turn your eyes to Jesus, open your Bible and find the promises of God. When you do, you will find that every scenario you can dream up has God’s promises which address them. Even when things seem completely out of control and the sorrow and pain unbearable, believe that God is there and working it out for His purposes.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

If you are His, you can trust Him in all circumstances.

As Christians, we have no reason to be all stressed out and worn down. Sometimes, we just need to stop and get quiet. Sometimes we need a nap. Remember, even God rested.

Genesis 2:2-3
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.  So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Do the work God calls you to do. But remember that there is a sabbath for you. No, it isn’t just a day. It’s an attitude. An attitude of faith; faith that God has everything under His control. It’s ok to rest. He’s got this.