Rest

Ah rest, sweet rest! We have finally reached the stage in life that our youngest is sleeping through the night. What a joyful day indeed! I am thankful for the grace that God gives parents (especially my wife) to keep everyone alive and function throughout the day with minimal, sporadic sleep. But repose from this stage of life is most welcome.

Thus it is with discipleship as well. We should be thankful for the spiritual rest that comes from Above. The Psalmist wrote, “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass (37:7).”  It is a blessing to know that we can enjoy peace in spite of the ever-growing wickedness around us. Even when things are not going as we think they ought, we can still rest in Him.

Naturally speaking, a lack of rest can create two situations. One involves impaired judgment. When you are tired small problems can seem monumental. We become anxious, short with others, and easily agitated when sleep deprived. The other condition is resignation to your restless state. What is likely a temporary situation seems to be your lot in life. Neither is pleasant. But what joy and contrast when rest is finally found!

Spiritual rest is a welcome blessing to the child of God. When Israel hardened their hearts towards God in the wilderness, they missed out on rest for 40 years (Hebrews 3). But oh what joy it was when finally given to them. Such it is with us today.  There is peace and clarity when we patiently rest in the Lord. There is a relief in His rest that nothing in the world can offer.