Come and Rest Awhile...

Even waking up I still felt tired, drained, exhausted. Even after my head was on my pillow for hours I felt so tired. Oh how I needed rest. Rest from thinking, rest from crying, rest from fighting, rest from struggling and worrying- just Rest! Even on a soft pillow, on my head still felt like I had laid my head down on a cinder block all night; and my bed, a bed of splinters piercing through my body bruised from lack of rest. One could say that the mosquito's may have had a feast from the open windows providing freshness from the outside air. However, in my spirit I was grieved from lack of rest.

As I sat sipping on my morning coffee and reading the word, Hebrews 4:9 really moved me. "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."

Time and time we want to acquire rest in the flesh however, it's that spiritual rest that we truly need and crave for. Even as Christians, we forget that we can rest in Christ Jesus. But when the flesh is being tried and fought, when there is so much work to be done yet, who can find rest...

And He said unto them, “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure, even so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by boat privately.~Mark 6:31,32

Jesus invites us to go to a desert place and rest awhile. Even God after the 6th day of creation made a special day of rest. He rested also after ministering to the universe from creating stars and galaxies, worlds and planets. He rested on the seventh day.

Hebrews 4:10,11 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Unbelief is not rest when we worry and become fearful and anxious of the day and then tomorrow. His word says in Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

God created everything to run effectively from ages to ages and generation to generation for us by His word in 6 days time. No computer can do this. The seed is in itself to live on until God says to stop. And then, we want to go and work our lives out ourselves when He has the blue print in His heart for us. So He says, find rest in me I am your rest. I have everything taken care of so why do you lay awake and worry...

For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

Hebrews 4:3-6 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

The children of Israel who were first led out of Egypt wondered in the wilderness forty years did not enter into the promise land because of unbelief. Even after seeing the mighty hand of God and even when the tabernacle in the wilderness was erected and the cloud covered the temple they still didn't find that rest. It was those who were born in the wilderness and grew up in it that was the generation that got to enter into the promise land. Only Joshua and Caleb from the original Exodus entered into that rest because of their faith, gratitude and steadfast belief.

Hebrews 3:17-19 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

So perhaps, I have tossed and turned and bit my nails to the skin because I have unbelief and worry that He was not in control. But that I could do it on my own. Realistically, I cannot. He who formed the worlds and even me by the spoken word, still continues to bring and make life has my life in His heart and I can't give Him my burden or worries...

Lord, let me hide in your arms that the only thing I can hear is the beating of your heart and the inhales and exhales of praise and worship. The desert place and secret place is in your bosom; you are my hiding place, my refuge, and strength. You have become my sanctuary. When I choose to believe and I feel unstable, my belief in you and your word gives me that resting place.

Psalm 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him:

Hebrews 3:5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

So, let things go graciously and humbly, in meekness of strength, in purity, and truth, with the belief that God Almighty is doing a greater work that will be a testament in the future. He is looking and working towards getting us to that promised land of complete rest. However, we can find rest in Him now by believing that He is doing a more greater work as a testament to our friends and family later to make His mighty name known that Jesus saves even still. Rest in His arms of Love today. May we listen to His voice of many waters whisper encouragement and strength. May the glory cloud of His presence hide us from the enemy and may we rest by the brook of his living word quenching our thirst for rest. Come into the secret place and rest awhile.