A comment by Joyce Meyer got me to thinking… what, exactly, is ‘rest’? Somehow I’m beginning to think it’s not what we think it is. My message to me is – don’t always define words the way the dictionary does. It isn’t always the best definition. Always know it but also know the spiritual. Also, know the significance of the word, whatever it is, in your life. How do you define, describe, apply, and actualize the word? So, in this case, for you… what is rest and how is it found?
“Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]” (John 14:27, AMP)
For me, peace is the best indicator of rest. When you study this scripture, you read ‘perfect’ as the definer of peace. But it also says ‘Do not’ so we have a role in experiencing our peace, our rest. We are NOT to be troubled, afraid. And then it says that we need to let the Lord’s perfect peace calm us in every circumstance. And when we do this it provides us courage and strength for every challenge! Wow! Yes we are involved in the process but look at the rewards!!!
Rest should never be defined or viewed as escape. And rest is always available for us and not a state of being that will never be experienced. However, do we know what kind of rest we are seeking? Immediate? Long-term? Catch one’s breath? (Fill in the blank). If we don’t understand what we seek, how will we know it when we see/experience it? And yes, rest is ‘all the above’: short, long, immediate, in our souls, in our current situation, etc. Never limit what rest is and when it is active.
I think the most important consideration is HOW to find it. We can get into not being able to see the forest for the trees. One of the simplest paths to rest is found in 1 Peter 4:5/Psalms 55:11. Give your burden to the Lord. He tells us so we can. Finally, look to Hebrews 3:8-11 and walk in your rest.
“And so this is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for “today.” The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:8-11, MSG)
