Hebrews 4:11 shows that rest is more than a mere suggestion from God, it’s an act of obedience.

Truth be told, in my struggle to “find the time” to rest, all I’m doing is running.  I may not be intentionally running away from God; my intentions may be to do all the running for God. However, I’m still running and not resting!

Running without rest becomes an act of disobedience to the one who has called us to rest.

Isaiah 30:15 “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.'”

Restless: We often use this word when watching someone wrestle in their faith with God, noting that their actions appear as a “restless struggle to surrender to Jesus.”  However, do we ever stop to think about our own restlessness? Restlessness isn’t limited to our struggle to surrender our lives to Jesus, it reaches beyond our relationship with Him & brings an unhealthy drive to strive.

1. Our restlessness to surrender the day-to-day tasks to Jesus; making endless lists and checking them off one by one until they are complete.
2. Our restlessness to relinquish control to another who might be willing and able to help, but is never given the opportunity.
3. Our restlessness to say no, for fear of hurting, disappointing, or losing approval.

You have made us for yourself O Lord
and our heart is restless until it rests in you.
-St. Augustine-

We were made to worship God.

Our lives are living worship to God & without rest there is no melody; just mere notes running together in an unbalanced, constant flow of chaos.

“Because the focus of God’s heart has always been your heart,
self-care is really a soul’s journey to fully receive His love.”
-Bonnie Grey Finding Spiritual Whitespace-

Rest is as vital to our lives as God’s Word, for it is in our time of rest that His Word comes alive. When we quiet our hearts enough to soak in His love, it removes our unhealthy drive to strive & fills it with peace.  When we rest, we obey and when we obey we please the Father most.

Obedience: When God calls us to rest, and we choose to run, everything we do becomes an unsavory sacrifice instead of a pleasing aroma to God. (More on Obedience vs. Sacrifice)

1 Samuel 15:22 “to obey is better than sacrifice.”

To disobey God, by offering our busy lives as sacrifices, when He’s called us to lay them aside and rest, is a slap in His face;  It’s an act of deliberate rebellion.

“For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
1 Samuel 15:23

Let us not be so consumed by doing that we run; neglecting rest.

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How is your personal Journey to Rest going? Are you struggling like I am, or are you finding it easier to settle into the rhythm of rest? I would love to hear your heart!