Rest

What you are about to read is crazy!

It flies in the face of all that modern society in all of her acclaim and prestige will urge from you. To be honest with you, it goes directly against what many churches have taught and are currently teaching. Some of you will balk at a perceived tone of laziness or disenchantment. Some may be disheartened and frustrated that I have lost my mind and have lost touch with what’s going on in the world around me. For others, you will read this and find encouragement, peace, and rest.

What I am sharing with you in this refueling stop in our journey is not mine. It has come from years of study, personal experience (both failure and success), and a commitment to help others and myself. It is biblical.

Years ago while attending a men’s Bible study led by my great friend and mentor Adrian Despres, he introduced a concept that has changed my life. Please understand that I was the oddball in the room (which is often the case!). In this room of 25 plus men were doctors, attorneys, high-rise businessmen, politicians, and college professors. The elite of society; the busy and overloaded. I was the young pastor still wet behind the ears and comparatively speaking the most insignificant guy in the room. While studying with these fast-paced men, Adrian shared with us about his DAWG. Adrian told us that every so often he purposefully spent a Day Alone With God (DAWG). During this day, there was no cell phone, no other people, and no food only fasting.  Only a radio or mp3 player with Christian music was permitted. I was intrigued, and I had to do it. Years later, I still spend a Day Alone With God every so often (about once a quarter).

Why do I practice this? It’s the same reason you take your car for an oil change or tune up. For me it’s spiritual maintenance. The truth is, we all need rest. We all need a reset. We all need rhythm. What I’ve noticed (and I know you have too) is that when I get busy doing life my resources begin to deplete. I become tired, frustrated, and easily agitated. My focus drifts and thus my mission and purpose follow. I begin to rely on my strength, determination, and will instead of the will, grace, and omnipotence of a mighty God. The luster gets thin and shimmer no longer shines. The man in the mirror looks tired, embattled, and ungracious. And I know that’s who you see when you look in my direction. Without rhythm, resetting, and rest life does this to all of us.

So how do we fix this? How do I reflect God’s grace? How do I rest?

Simply do it. More intricately, it involves setting aside time in your busy life and schedule to spend time in quiet reflection and rest to recharge your battery and set a daily rhythm for the journey through which God is leading you. I want to share two thoughts specifically that I have incorporated into my life (I am continually learning) that will help you find rest.

As we read though the Old Testament, we see a concept that is foreign to most of us today. It’s the Hebrew word sabbat transliterated into English as sabbath. This word literally means “to cease, rest, or desist.” (EBD) This practice was ever present in the mind of the Hebrew and was modeled by the Creator Himself. Genesis 2:1-3 tells us, “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 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.” Before I go any further, please let me explain that God wasn’t tired after creation. He was exhausted in a physical sense and needed to take a nap. He saw what He made, blessed it, and since it was “good” in His eyes He ceased (rested) His masterpiece. The Creator God set forth in motion for His people, both Jew and Gentile, a rhythm by which we can enjoy a blessed life.

Some might be thinking that this is an Old Testament part of the Law (10 Commandments) thus it doesn’t apply to Christians today since we are part of the Bride of Christ.  While the church is no longer under the Law of the Old Testament, rather the Law of Christ, the principle and practice of Sabbath are still beneficial and a blessing to all that practice this God-given rest.  We must remember that God gave us sabbath to bless us, not to keep us from doing things we think are important. This is what the religious elites of Jesus’ day had adulterated the sabbath to mean. The Pharisees and Sadducees created an additional set of laws based on their perception of what God meant when He gave us this blessing. That’s why so many of us are afraid of this concept today. Many fear it will keep them from doing what they need to do or that they don’t have time for this practice.

Friend, you don’t have time not to rest.

There needs to be a period of time in your week where you purposefully rest. The Hebrew people set aside an entire 24 hours from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday to observe the Sabbath (Nehemiah 13:19). This doesn’t mean that you don’t do anything for 24 hours. That you sit on your hand or lay in bed all day. It does mean that you spend a period of time in quiet reflection and rest. This is not a substitute for your daily quiet time with God (more on this later). This is a purposeful time to spend enjoying the blessings of God including nature and the outdoors, food and it’s taste, and people and the relationships God has given you. I understand that there are some practical concerns that you may have depending upon your station in life. I’d love to communicate with you further to help you through some of your concerns. Send me an Email of contact me to share your concerns so we can help each other.

As I’ve studied this practice of Sabbath rest, one question has continually come to my attention whether asked by me or someone else. “How does rest help me if I am going right back to the same problems of life?” Let me say, I totally get it. There is nothing worse that the realization on the last day of a great vacation or time of holiday that you have rested but everything and everyone else hasn’t. Here is my second thought for you.

Practice continual rest.

The creator God and Savior Jesus are extending the invitation to continually rest. Listen to the invitation of Jesus In Matthew 11, “²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” WOW! How exciting to know that Jesus knows how I feel! He understands when I feel overwhelmed. He hears my cries of painful desperation. Jesus gives REST. Jesus extends to you the opportunity to rest in Him. When your world is crazy; He provides peace. When your surroundings leave you feeling unsafe; He is safe. When you are burdened and overwhelmed and your soul can’t take it any more; He can take it for you. He still requires that you take His yoke (not talking about eggs), but His word is sure and He guarantees that you can carry the load.

God has given you rest; take it. Make time to rest in His grace and enjoy His blessings. Find peace in a new perspective. Seek His truth and live in it.  Jesus has extended the invitation to rest in His unfailing arms of love. They are strong arms. Rest my friend, knowing that you are known and still loved.