True Rest is God’s Rest

Before we consider biblical uses of the word rest, let’s consider the definitions offered in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary.

Merriam-Webster defines the word rest in the following ways: 

• Repose or sleep; specifically a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities
• freedom from activity or labor
• absence of motion
• the repose of death 

There are many passages in both the Old and New Testaments that reference the rest God gives. One of these passages include Exodus 33:14, a conversation between the Lord and Moses, which says, “The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Another of these passages is 2 Samuel 7:11, when, by the prophet Nathan, the Lord declares His plans to David and says, “I will also give you rest from all your enemies.” The last example I’ll include here is from Matthew 11:28, when Jesus, explaining that He came to reveal the Father, said, ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

There is a consistent theme in these passages. Let’s first consider the Old Testament use of the Hebrew word for rest: נוּחַ (nûaḥ). This word is used to communicate a number of different ideas, including letting remain, giving rest to, making quiet, dwelling, withdrawing, and giving comfort to. Do you see a theme? This idea of rest, as communicated throughout the Old Testament, gives the idea that you can let your guard down. Why is that? Could it be because the Lord Himself is asserting His sovereignty over a situation? Could it be that He is inviting the one He addresses to trust Him? 

The Greek word used in Matthew 11:28 is much more direct in its communication, as the word ἀναπαύω (transliteration: anapauō) means to give rest or, more specifically, to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength. Notice the intonation of Jesus’s words, “I will give you rest.” Jesus explicitly communicates that He will cause or permit His listener to rest, recover, and collect his or her strength. He is the One Who allows for and provides for the rest you and I need. He alone is the source of the peace and strength we need and desire.

When You Need the Lord To Renew Your Strength

Rest comes from the One Who we can trust to keep us safe. When we choose to receive God’s rest, we enter into a state of surrender. That state is totally dependent upon one’s own willingness to forfeit the need for control and the need to be in the driver’s seat of life. 

It’s so easy for our days to feel out of control. I’m not exempt from that experience! My mind and body get weary very quickly with the weight of trying to carry it all. The demands of the day quickly pile up and, before I know it, I’m overstimulated and totally aware of my need for the self-control that comes by walking with the Spirit. I quickly realize that I am not in control at all. 

What if, instead of craving a moment of rest, I entered into a constant state of rest? 

In Psalm 46:10, the Psalmist issued a prophetic command: “Be still.” The word used here is the Hebrew word רָפָה (rāp̄â), which means “cease.” What we miss in English is the implication of that word in the context of the verse. The full weight of that word should be understood as “cease striving.” The command has nothing to do with the specific demands of any given day. It has nothing to do with taking a day off. It doesn’t even pertain to a specific situation. In this passage, God spoke through the Psalmist to issue a timeless command: stop trying so hard to bring your own will to pass and remain in a constant state of rest. How? The rest of the verse answers that question: “know that I am God.” 

God asserts His position as the One Who is sovereign over all things. He is in control. He knows the beginning, middle and end. He knows what the day will bring, and all the ways each of His beloved image bearers will grow through His plans and purposes. He knows what our responses will be. This is precisely why we benefit from remaining sober-minded and full of trust. We can’t give Him the control because He is already in control. We can, however, acknowledge His sovereignty and live as if He will work all things out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) because He will.

“Be still and know that I AM GOD.” The entire 46th chapter of Psalm gives praise for who God is. He is our refuge and strength, fortress, and help in ever present trouble. He is the God Who ends wars and melts the earth with His voice. He calms seas and stops the sun. He is the One who makes safe those in need and the One who is with His people at all times. 

Our God, the One True Jehovah, is in control. He protects us from things we cannot see or even imagine. We go and will continue to go through hard things; things we weren’t intended to endure when God created the world. Yet, He made a place for us to find safety, protection, and rest: in Himself. 

How To Live In a Constant State of Rest

Putting trust in God doesn’t just happen in the big, hard things. It doesn’t even begin there. The trust we give God in our marriages, for our children, during a terminal diagnosis, during a relationship struggle, or financial crisis doesn’t fully illustrate our level of trust in Him. Developing the habit of trusting the Lord begins in the “little” things. It begins in the small conversations with family members; in our decisions to debate over matters that frustrate us; in choosing not to get anxious about the items on our to-do list; in choosing to spend time with Him instead of “get ahead” on your errands or chores.  

Practical Tips and Encouragement

Are you in need of rest? Do you want to be still and know? 

Be sure to pray and ask God to help you receive His rest and to trust Him. Ask Him to open your eyes to what He would have you see; to open your mind to what He wants to teach you; and open your heart to the growth He has planned for you. Pray that He will reveal Himself to you and let you see who He is. Ask Him daily. Several times a day if you need to. 

Invest time in reading the Bible. THIS is where we learn about the Lord and read about all the ways He demonstrated His trustworthiness over the course of history. Pray before you spend time in the Word and ask His Spirit to reveal Himself to you. 

Plan physical rest into your week. Your body needs more than just sleep. Do you remember when God set the seventh day apart as holy? Observing the Sabbath isn’t just a commandment; it’s a gift. It’s considered a day when you abstain from “everyday” work. For some it may be sitting around doing nothing. For others it may be going to do some things in the garden or spending the day with a friend. Whatever physical rest looks like to you, put it into your planner and onto your to-do list. Trust God that the things that need to get done will be done on time. 

God designed rest for our benefit, and enjoying that rest is more important than making sure that everything is checked off our lists. Enter the Lord’s rest and trust Him in all things, sister!

Love, 

Mary and Erika

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