Rest

Thinking about rest this morning.  I started my day at 7:30 am.  Since I’ve been working diligently over the past month on increasing my emotional intelligence, I noted an anxious feeling about having slept that late and admitted to myself that this is my norm.  Unless I start my day particularly early, I feel anxious.

You’ve heard the expression, “I have a love/hate relationship with [insert topic].”  When it comes to rest, I just haven’t built that relationship at all.  I have put all my eggs in the basket of accomplishment and efficiency.  Anything less than perfect efficiency and I cannot rest.  Exactly how much time do you think I reach perfect efficiency?  Yeah, that’s why rest does not come to me.

Recently I pushed past the point that my body said it was time for bed, and I got what I call “overtired.”  Then I couldn’t sleep.  For about a week and a half I couldn’t sleep much more than two hours in a row.  Up and down all night.  I finally started praying about it, and the Lord answered my prayer by letting me sleep better this week.

For me, MariNelle’s message Sunday was so timely. If it was not for anyone else, it was definitely for me.  Finding Rest. 

I had memorized Matthew 11:28-30 summer of 1991 with Teen Missions, so I quoted as she read the verses.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

I caught several things from her message. 

First was a good question.  “Were you only created to do what you have natural capacity for?” No.  I believe God uses both my natural strengths and my weaknesses.  To be honest, I think he gets more pleasure out of using my weaknesses.

Second, “Christ’s rest is not a rest from work but in work.”  I’ve had that idea for a long time.  I don’t want to live my life just waiting for vacation.  I want to build a sustainable lifestyle that includes rest.  In one measure at least, I have succeeded.  My quiet time with the Lord is my place of rest.  When I am getting that consistently, I can endure anything.

Third, Jesus said, both that he would give rest and that I would find rest.  That passage seems backward.  Jesus said, “take my yoke”.  The word yoke conjures an image of hard labor, heavy plowing, sweat pouring down.  Contrast that with Jesus promise, “you will find rest.”  I think the secret is that to take up Jesus’ yoke one must lay down the one they’ve been carrying.

I left service Sunday challenged to ask Holy Spirit what should and should not be on my calendar.  I am feeling encouraged to be in a growth process.  I am learning rest.  I am growing in ability to sense Holy Spirit’s lead on small decisions like what I put on my schedule.

Thank you, Lord, for your grace on my life.  It is a pleasure to walk with you.