What does it mean to rest?
Many of us would probably respond with “laying down, eating my comfort food, and watching my favorite show to get my mind off things”. But what happens when that time is up and you have to get back to reality? Are you worry-free? Stress-free? Free from fear? What about depression and anxiety? No, we absolutely are not. All of those things that we were trying to get off of our mind, come back and hit us like a Mack truck when we get back to reality. In this blog, I want us to discuss what it means to rest in JESUS!
How many of us can that it’s easy to rest in the Lord? I’ll be the first to admit, it is hard! No sugar-coating things around here…it’s extremely hard. As I mentioned in my book Surrender: Resting in The Peace and Joy of Jesus, as humans, we crave control. That control that we crave goes completely against Gods perfect and beautiful design for us. Resting in Jesus requires us to surrender control. When we don’t surrender control, we are trying to fix a situation or prevent an outcome by our own willpower, instead of trusting in God’s perfect will and way. We are placing our faith in US instead of in GOD and the Word says in Hebrews 11:6 KJV “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”. As believers, how do we expect for things to work out when we can’t even please God because we are having faith in and believing in ourselves? How can we expect to see God’s favor? Ponder on that for a moment…or a day. Or a week. However long you to need to, to realize that doing things our way never leads to success- for Jesus says in John 14:6 KJV “I am the way, the truth, and the life”.
Now, let’s answer the question of what it means to rest in Jesus. I have recently been in a season of learning what it means to rest in Him and I would say I am still in that season. However, the more I seek the Lord’s counsel, and spend time in prayer and in His word, it is becoming more clear to me what it means to rest in Him. Here are four truths that have resonated with me during this season:
- As a daughter of the King, I can and am called to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”. Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
- As a daughter of the King, I can rest in knowing “That all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose”. Romans 8:28 KJV
- As a daughter of the King, I can and am called to “cast all my care upon him; for he careth for you”. 1 Peter 5:7
- As a daughter of the King, I can rest in knowing that He knows “the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV
The truth is, the enemy is always going to try to attack our minds, to get our focus off of the Lord, to cause us to doubt, to fear, to worry, to disrupt our peace. However, I am here to tell you the devil is a liar and there is no truth in him! So, when we find ourselves under attack of the enemy, let’s not only practice leaning on the Word of God, let’s actually DO IT! Let’s rest in Him, in His truths, in His promises. After all, that’s what we’re called to do as His children.
Be encouraged and be blessed this week! xoxo
Additional Scripture on Rest:
- Psalm 61: 1-4 KJV “Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever. I will trust in the covert of thy wings.”
- Psalm 62:5-8 KJV “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory. The rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.”
- Psalm 116:7-8 KJV “Return unto thy rest, O my soul; For the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death.”
- Psalm 119:114 KJV “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.”
- Psalm 125:1-2 KJV “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abideth for ever.”