Resting or resisting? If you ask most people what they would prefer, resting would most likely be the answer. Asking another way would elicit additional responses of rest. Exhaustion or rest? Rest please. 

And yet. I resist and exhaust myself in the process. There isn’t a single day in this long life of mine; 796 months, 3464 weeks or 24,250 days, that God did not offer His rest. Thankfully I have no idea how many times I declined. 

I strive, I dig in my heels, I finagle and even manipulate to no avail. There were 33 years out of my life I did not look to or ask God anything that I’m aware of. Yet Christ in His amazing love was there. He is with me now and always will be. Why is it I cannot will myself into the rest only He can give? There are multiple reasons and I will share a few of them with you. 

In her beautifully written book, When You Love a Prodigal, Judy Douglass shares some priceless insights. Her Chapter on Rest resonates with me and is far too good not to share. 

She begins with Jeremiah 6:16; Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and you will find rest for your souls. 

Jeremiah does not say to study the map and choose the best route. No, the text is clear. Ask for the ancient paths. The paths that have stood the test of time and are a good, sure and safe way to go. Ask for the direction to take the good way, the good path and then find rest. Oh, there is so much to be said about soul rest. 

Judy goes on to break down the disconnects many of us have while we strive and plan and fuss. The mind is a marvelous place, a muscle that requires a steady diet of truth in order to function at its best. It must be guarded at all times or emotions will push in and take our thoughts down the trail of exhaustion.

 In Chapter Four, over ten days of thoughtful devotions, the following is a summary on “REST”. 

● Trying to live away from God's presence is exhausting, but there is rest in his presence. 

● Sin is exhausting but there is rest in repentance.

● Unforgiveness is exhausting but there is rest in forgiveness. 

● Holding on is exhausting but there is rest in release.

● Fighting against reality is exhausting but there is rest in giving thanks.

● Traveling the wrong road is exhausting but there is rest on the right road.

● Disobeying a trustworthy God is exhausting but there is rest in obedience.

● Hanging on is exhausting but there is rest in persevering.

● Closing up our ears to the Lord is exhausting but there is rest in listening.

 God is always gracious and gives us the free will to choose. His Holy Spirit in us and our minds strengthened by his truth give us what we need to choose wisely. To choose the trustworthy path and find the soul rest we so desperately need. It will always come back to asking myself, do I desire rest or am I insisting on pushing back and resisting? I, for one, would like to find rest. It is there for the asking.

Tiffany N on: Apr 5th, 2023 06:47am

I love the summary on "REST". Puts things in perspective. Thanks!!

Becky on: Apr 1st, 2023 03:57am

I desire true rest, but I make it hard to receive the rest only He can give.