TIME TO REST
- Me Kelle
- Sep 12, 2021
- 6 min read
And He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
Genesis 2:2 NKJV
In the field of physical therapy after someone has been injured it is usually suggested that the person REST...many times clients refuse and argue that it is impossible to rest but rest allows the body time to repair, heal, to have the ability to regain energy and strength. Jesus said come to me all who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11:28-30
There was a time when I worked seven days consistently, I was frustrated and burnt-out though. As a single mom I tried doing everything myself; I worked a full-time job, went to school part-time, attended social events but I was exhaused and miserable. I had to do it, I had to get things done or who would do it? After becoming a Christian I realized there was so much more that needed to be done and now having a different source I understood that it was okay to rest. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
-Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV
It is okay to take some time off to retreat, to refocus and relax. You may wonder how that can be done when there is so much to do? Have you ever turned your cellphone off to allow it to charge and realize it charges faster off than when it is on? There is so much more you can do after you have recharged and regained strength. As a child in Christ this time is great to reconnect with God and hear what He has to say. Our lives are filled with text messages, instagram posts, facebook stories, work assignments and family. With the myriad of things we are focusing on in our daily lives, not that it is wrong but we need time to recharge to reagin full strength (your brain can function at optimal capacity).
Our bodies were made to reboot at a given 6 hours daily, it is a must or the results can be catastrophic-for example hallucinating, anxiety, uncontrollable temper. Although I would have my daily rest, taking additional time off became a necessity to see productivity. Once a week I began retreating from everyone to spend time with God to ponder on His work for the week, to hear from Him (to be corrected or directed). It almost seemed like the more I retreated the more I got done. This was amazing while I would be meditating- on God's work-creation, testimonies or a scripture it was as if so much was being downloaded. Like there was a software update; my phone does a software update periodically and while that is being done I cannot use the phone, it is on full lockdown. When that is done I can use my phone longer and there are more functions. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. -Psalm 91:1 There is safety and comfort in resting in the Lord. God used Himself as an example of working, then taking time for rest. There is a steady balance with resting and working because for instance there many people that rest so long they become lazy. Lazy hands will be forced to labour. -Provers 12:24 NKJV
"All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."-Proverbs 14:23
what is being done during rest?
Rest can be a time in prayer, singing praises to God, sitting in silence, sleeping, reading and sometimes even refraining from food-fasting. This provides a lighter, peaceful and harmoneous atmosphere. Doing this there is renewed zeil and fire for your vision/work.
On the other hand, do you remember the story about Elijah, after he had been warned by Queen Jezebel he ran away and retreated into a cave? During this time was ideal for him to reconnect with God, pray, ask for direction in what to do in this situation. But he spent that time meditiating on what Jezebel said, he increased his anxiety which drained his strength. Hence, the angel coming to walk Elijah to feed him and he fell back to sleep. It is something about the anointing that gives you the energy and power to get things done and anything like fear, anxiety, frustration opposes that energy and draines that energy, his rest was not in the Lord and it became wasted and negative energy as a result and he was replaced. The story of Jonah is an example of someone not connecting with God for the vision and itinerary and the end result was a completes mission with complaining. Jonah never renewed his strength in the Lord, nor do we see where he prayed and his story ended abruptly, incomplete.
In contrast, chapter 2 of Daniel the king had a dream and no magician, enchanters, or sorcerers could interpret his dream, the king became upset and commanded death to all the "wise men". When Daniel heard this he spoke in wisdom and told the king he will be able to interpret the dream. Daniel 2:19 says during the night, during the time of rest and meditiation the mystery was revealed to Daniel. Daniel was a man of God and connected with Him often for results and answers to what he had been faced with.
Daniel chapter 6 Daniel had already been promoted and had haters that tried to test him but Daniel took rest-refuge in the Lord he was laways saved. Daniels haters went to the king after they could find no way to bring Daniel down they got the king to change the law. This law would directly effect Daniel. The king issued a decree that no one was to pray to any god or human for thirty days. This would be a major concern for children of God who would or should connect daily and throughout the day. Daniel had a habit to pray, worship and thank God 3 times a day which he did not change. A group of them went to Daniel's room and met him praying. The consequence was to be put in the den with the lions. Daniel was thrown in the den and was untouched; God's grace, protection and love is so amazing when we remain in right standing. Remaining connected and allowing God to be God without us taking control of any situation.
Additionally, David is another example of someone that used retreat to recharge. After king Saul disobeyed God, God told Samuel to anoint David as king. Saul did not allow this process to be easy for David as David served Saul he provoked and frustrated David to the point where David had to flee, take refuge. David was a psalmist and worshipped God often but the scritpure never said that God told David to flee but he used wisdom. This was wisdom because although God had anointed David as king there was still a predecessor, an authority, someone for David to submit to. Saul made this transition very uncomfortable hence David needing to flee to save his life and the ability to still honor someone that seemed unhonorable. This is something I am certain each of us can understand, having someone who may mistreat you but using wisdom and love we step away or retreat to love from a distance. Or retreating to find out from God the steps to take to deal with the situation. Every problem has a solution.
Finding rest, comfort in the Lord to help fight battles, fulfill work assignments and exams is so much easier than trying to it on our own. Jesus said said to come to Him all who are weary, tired, frustrated, ready to give up and He will provide rest, you will no longer have to worry about it. He gives you grace to sustain you through the time of frustration, He provides the solution, he helps you retain information that normally you may forget. God is that great that He does not want us to live with anxiety knowing we do not work well under tose conditions.
So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest.
-Hebrews 4:9-11
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