“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:9-10

Needful Rest

God is our example for the necessity of rest. He created the world in six days and entered into His rest on the seventh day; Jesus entered into His rest after He finished His work of redemption.

Sometimes it’s hard to know that we need to take time out to rest. We continue in our daily routines—day in and day out. God knows when we need rest—even when we don’t know ourselves. This promise of rest remains only for the people of God, and we enter into that rest by faith and obedience. If we have unbelief in our hearts, it will make us fall short of the peace and rest that God intends for us to enjoy.

The old Puritan commentator John Owen described five features of this “rest” for the believer (taken from David Guzik’s study guide):

1) Rest means peace with God.

2) Rest means freedom from a servile, bondage-like spirit in the worship and service of God.

3) Rest means deliverance from the burden of Mosaic observance.

4) Rest means freedom of worship according to the gospel.

5) Rest means the rest that God Himself enjoys.

There was a time in my life when I was going non-stop with my business, church, friends and family. I knew that I needed to settle down and take some time to rest at home—but there was always one more thing to do. I do love spending time at home as it is a nice, quiet place high on a hill where I get my inspiration to write, to get refreshed, replenished, and refocused. When I try to take time out to rest in my own strength, I find that I just get back up and go, go, go again and therefore never experience the rest that God desires for me to enjoy.

God allowed an accident to happen to me, and I was home for many months recuperating from a foot injury that required much needed rest and healing. It was actually a wonderful time for me! That may sound weird to you, but every day I was thanking Him for the rest that I was experiencing. It was so wonderful to be home and resting in the quiet hours and spending time with my best friend, Jesus.

I was very content to be home. God gave me peace and joy each and every day. It was very physically, mentally, and emotionally painful on many levels, but God granted me the grace to endure.

“There is no safer place than in the Father’s hands” (author unknown).

“Thank You, Lord, for the example of needful rest that only You can provide. We look forward to our final glorious resting place with You in heaven. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”