3 reasons for the gift of rest
God designed us with a need for the wonderful gift of rest. When we violate this, it not only robs us of the gift, but of something else down deeper. The effects can be terrible.
God’s plan
Often, we hear people say, “I can’t rest because there is too much work to do. I can’t take a day off.”
We harm ourselves when we do this. We have to realize today that sleep is God’s idea. He has given us His promises, but He has also given us a number of hints. This message is not only about sleep, but about an underlying issue that surfaces itself in sleeplessness, or insomnia. It probably affects hundreds, if not thousands, of people that are sleepless.
“The fear of the Lord leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil” (Proverbs 19:23).
God wants sleep to be something that is satisfying. It’s true that if God wanted to, He could have made our lives just one long day, so that after birth, it would be daytime all the way until we close our eyes when we die. For some reason, though, God broke up our lifetime into 24-hour slices. He didn’t have to, but He did.
God reminds us through rest before the start of a new day that:
1. He gives us another chance at life
One of the three reasons for rest is that every day God gives us another chance at life. We need new beginnings, don’t we? Take them. God built that in. This is why God gives us 24 hours at a time. It is broken with something called rest that rejuvenates us.
“Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
2. We are not indispensable
This may be a really rude awakening, but the world will go on even if we are not involved for a day.
“Well, I’ve got to be there,” we say. “I’ve got to be involved.”
“No,” says God. “Just humble yourself, would you? You are not that necessary. So wherever you go, go as a servant.”
We have to humble our souls. If we violate the Sabbath, or if we violate rest, something happens to our soul. We start to get proud, we get edgy, we get anxious.
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved, even in His sleep” (Psalm 127:2).
3. This is a time to heal
Did you know that when we sleep, our body repairs itself? And if not, we operate with unhealed wounds.
What are some things that we need to do because sometimes, our sleep is affected?
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
A lot of times, our weariness is not necessarily physical; it’s that there is no rest for our souls. There is only one way the Bible says to find true rest—we can sleep, but if we don’t come to Him, we will have weariness in our soul.
The only way that we will find the source of rest is when we lean fully on Him who is the Lord of the Sabbath, the Lord of peace and the Lord of rest.
Photo source: istock
More on Spiritual Growth and Soul Care
- Finishing well isn’t accidental: it’s intentional faithfulness (by Peter Greer)
- Leadership under pressure: thriving in the age of big feelings (by Christian Muntean)
- How going to church benefits brain and body (by Charles Stone)
- Biggie Smalls & the Apostle Paul on how to not slip into idleness (by Jordan Raynor)
