Taking Time To Rest

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength. But you would have none of it.”

Isaiah 30:15

WITH A MYRIAD OF ACTIVITIES and responsibilities fighting for our time and attention, it’s often difficult to get everything done. There always seems to be more to do and less time to do it. Without enough time to complete everything, it becomes even more of a challenge to find the time for the rest we desperately need in order to function at peak performance.

According to the prophet Isaiah, our strength is closely tied to rest. In our busy culture, it’s easy to think that rest is synonymous with laziness, but it’s not. Rest is a disposition of the soul that flows out of a deep trust that God is in control and taking care of us. If we’re honest with ourselves, we recognize that much of our busyness may be a result of insecurity about our standing with God. We try to silence our noisy consciences with activity.

You’ve no doubt heard it said that we are human beings, not human doings. Still, as men, it’s easy for us to define ourselves by what we do and to quickly lose sight of who we are (apart from what we do). Rather than resorting to more activity as a means of dealing with the noise inside us, we should understand that God desires for us to stop and rest instead. In this stillness, God exposes our desire for self-sufficiency and reminds us that His love for us is based on who we are and not what we do. Don’t you long for that? Don’t you long for the “green pastures” and “quiet waters” of Psalm 23 (HCSB)? They are available for us.

BOTTOM LINE

If we think we need to earn anything in our relationship with God, we will live restless lives. What will you do today to intentionally rest?

Moment of Strength: Luke 10:38-42