Much Needed Rest

Much Needed Rest

I saw a deep golden flowing river that radiated light as it poured toward giant buildings all lined up like dominoes. These buildings were obstacles that stood up against the will of God, and as a giant wave of light hit them, they fell. I felt great peace when this happened. Then the river continued to coat the entire area in its golden light, and I knew this was good. Suddenly, it plunged down a ravine I hadn’t known was there. I felt a deep thrill. I understood the river was never to have been on flat land but was always intended for a deeper flow.

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“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” (Heb. 4:11, ESV)

As I was pondering what this all meant for my life, He spoke. “You must work to enter my rest.” This seemed weird to me, and I went to verify what this meant in scripture. He brought to remembrance the above verse in Hebrew.

Reading the entire chapter of Hebrews four is definitely worthwhile. I think that in Hebrews 4:11 the word rest has two meanings: the deep and eternal rest we receive in heaven, but also the rest we can feel on earth as we diligently seek to be obedient. When we are in obedience, the need to strive and be perfect and push harder and work harder is gone because we’re relying on the wisdom of God to choose the correct path for us. We aren’t wasting our energy on things we mistakenly built up (the buildings from my word picture).

We have to work out, carving time into our day, into our week, into our months and into our years, where we are going to spend time with the Lord to increase our relationship and dependence on him. We can’t be directed, strengthened, inspired, or in love with Him if we never spend time getting to know Him.

But this doesn’t happen accidentally; we don’t accidentally fall into perfect rest. In our society, what we think of as rest as pushing ourselves past our limits and collapsing into a heap more of a forced rest than an act of obedience to our God. We rest when we can’t go on any longer.

Obeying His word to draw near to Him so that He might draw near to us unlocks the key to rest. 

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8, ESV)

Let us be intentional and not collapse into a forced rest, but rather choose to move into His perfect rest. 

When we truly rest in His word and the truth that it conveys that we are truly loved and known not because of our works or what we can do, but simply because he desires a deep and mean of meaningful relationship with us that can only come through total surrender to Christ. This much-needed rest is holy. It sets us apart from this world and puts us on a path toward and with Him.

Back to my word picture, what does it mean? The flowing golden river was my walk with and in Him. The obstacles/ buildings were the things (my to-do list) I built up that interfered in the flow. The plunging waterfall taking me to deeper places is the desire of God’s heart. That I choose to enter a much needed rest and stay with Him.

Prayer for you and me, Lord, we need Your help in carving out time to be with You. Remind us when we’re headed in useless directions that will only steal our energy and time to stop and seek Your rest. Focus, us on what You want us to spend our life on and let the rest go. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

What does it look like for you? Carving out time? I would love to hear your suggestions.