Some days I wake up in the morning, and the first thing I say is, “I am so tired.” At times, fatigue seems to overtake me. There are many reasons for this fatigue: lack of sleep, lack of iron, lack of time, lack of self-care, overcommitment, and disobedience to God’s instruction for rest. In seasons where I am burning the candle from both ends, I am often in a cycle of overworking and overcommitment.
What can a person do when they are bone tired and overcommitted?
Purposefully rest!
God promises his beloved daughters rest, and Hebrews 4:1-10 explains the type of rest God has for us. This passage explains that God wants us to have internal rest that results from faith. He also wants us to have mental and physical rest that results from choosing to put aside work and busyness for an entire day to enjoy some time with him on a consistent, weekly basis.
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.” Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his.
From this passage, we can glean four truths about the rest God has for us.
- Rest comes from faith in God’s word. Changing the way we think about our daily tasks and reevaluating our commitments helps us to know that he will fulfill his plan for our life:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:25-33).
- Rest comes from believing God is good and that he will provide all good things for us.
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalm 27:13-14).
- Rest comes when we receive the gift of peace He has for us.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).
- Rest comes when we draw near to him on a consistent basis.
As Luke 5:16 explains, Jesus frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray. If Jesus needed to do it, we certainly do. Who are we to feel we are so indispensable that we cannot make time to be alone with God and pour out our troubles and worries to him?
A day of rest each week and a consistent set time of rest in the Lord each day is God’s prescription for a bone tired, weary soul.
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest,” (Matthew 11:26).
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