Encouragement

Rest

by "Leta - Message Bringer"
04/21/23
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 You Cause My Soul To Rest In You

You cause my soul to rest in you. 

You cause my soul to rest in You. 

You cause my soul to rest in You.

 O Lord.  O Lord.

My Lord.

Most of the time when the Holy Spirit leads me to write the lesson I’m writing about is for me.  This one is no less true.  Through the years, I have gone through many trials, many cares, and carried many burdens.  This most recent one was huge .  There is a time in each of our lives when we must reach the end of ourselves and cling to the cross.  Burdens hurt.  Cares hurt.  Worries hurt.  Trouble hurts. 

When the Father sent Jesus into the world, He had a specific point to make.  Do we truly get the point.  Are we so busy that it just goes over our heads, day after day? 

The Lord definitely has a point that He is making when He says rest….. He sent His Son so that we can rest.  Are we listening?   Are we hearing His word?  Are we heading His word?  Are we getting the point?  His word is always much deeper than what it seems at first glance or when Its initially heard.  That is why the Spirit in us, yearns for us to lend our ear to Him.  He wants us to listen as He instructs us, and follow as He leads (if we only would do so). 

One of the hardest things, for me as an adult is to rest.  Rest is a four letter word.  Some may even consider it a bad word, saying I’ll rest when I die.  Really?  That is quite true.  We enter into the Lord’s rest when we truly die to self.  This truth is forgotten over time if we are not sensitive enough to the Spirit of God.   If His Spirit is in us, and He leads us into all truth, He definitely says, rest.

Jesus says, “Come unto to me all you who labor and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest……”.  Another translation puts it this way: “ I think that scripture is a Selah moment.  Can we ponder for a minute the word rest, and the Savior’s rest?  Selah  I have a burden, or should I say, had a burden.  This burden brought me to tears many times, throughout the years.   Over and over and over again.  It’s quite personal so I can’t go into detail, but at times I experienced excruciating emotional pain because of it.  Sometimes it was to the point of torment.  I wanted to do the right thing, because I love the Lord.  I’d been trying so hard, but now I see there is one thing I lacked.  Rest.  I hadn’t  given my burdens to Him.   That is rest in the Lord.  Lay my burdens down and rest in Him.  Am I relating to anyone, or am I the only one that has walked through life carrying my burdens?  Maybe the above scripture is written only for me?

We all have burdens.  We all live in this world, and have to deal with the old man (the old Adamic nature), and the old habits that we have not placed at the foot of the cross, because we simply don’t know to; or know how to rest.  I have read the above scripture many times over the years, yet have not considered what it entailed.  Let’s do that today.

I am very analytical in my way of thinking so, please bear with me as I look at this a little closer.  If you would join me in doing so, I would greatly appreciate it.  Let’s begin with the word rest.  What is REST?  A quick look at the definition of the word (I want to understand in depth the root meaning and intention of rest) rest is described in the English according to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary as:

Firstly as a noun:  

1. 1.      REPOSE, SLEEP specifically : a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities. 


2. 2.      a:  freedom from activity or labor 

b :  a state of motionlessness or inactivity 

c:  the repose of death (Repose:  To lay (a thing) at rest; lay by; lay up; deposit.  To lay at rest; refresh by rest: with reference to a person, and often used reflexively.  To cause to be calm or quiet; tranquilize; compose.  To lay, place, or rest, as confidence or trust.  To lie or be at rest; take rest; sleep.  To rest in confidence; rely: followed by on or upon). 

1. 3.      a place for resting or lodging.


2. 4.      peace of mind or spirit 


3. 5.      (1): a rhythmic silence in music 

(2): a:  character representing such a silence.

        b:  a brief pause in reading……  (there is more listed, but does not help in making my point)

 ***There is no indication within the above definition of the word rest: of movement or work (that I can see).   Not the slightest indication of any form of labor.  

Looking a Little Closer

Secondly rest as a verb:

rest, rested; resting; rests

intransitive verb

1. 1.      a:  to get rest by lying down especially : sleep

b:  to lie dead

1. 2.      to cease from action or motion : refrain from labor or exertion


2. 3.      to be free from anxiety or disturbance


3. 4.      to sit or lie fixed or supported:  A column rests on its pedestal


4. 5.      a:  to remain confident : trust:  cannot rest on that assumption

            b:  to be based or founded:  the verdict rested on several sound precedents

1. 6.      to remain for action or accomplishment:  the answer rests with you


2. 7.      of farmland :  to remain idle or uncropped


3. 8.      to bring to an end voluntarily the introduction of evidence in a law case

transitive verb

1. 1.      to give rest to


2. 2.      to set at rest


3. 3.      to place on or against a support


4. 4.      to cause to be firmly fixed:  rested all hope in his child


5. 5.      to desist voluntarily from presenting evidence pertinent to (a case         at law)

How the Book of Hebrews  Defines Rest:

In other words Abraham’s confidence yielded the faith which yielded the rest that he walked in, in the relationship between him and the Almighty, because he believed Him and rested (trusted) in His word as truth.  Thus, he had confidence in Him and knew what was to come was not by his work.  Abraham realized the impossibilities within himself and that of his wife, Sarah.  It was impossible. Hebrews chapters 11 and 12.  He labored to know God (that was his work).  He became acquainted with Him, and after knowing Him, he took confidence in Him, who He is, and Abraham understood with whom he had this relationship. He took confidence in His word.  If you would take some time and review the summary of Abraham’s faith in God found in the book of Hebrews chapters 11 and 12 you will see what I mean. 

The adjectives of rest.  There is a peace, a quietness, a stillness in rest.  There is a calm relaxed comfort in not concerning oneself of matters (in rest).  *yes you care, but you know the LORD has it). There is a place in our heart where we can let go of the reigns and submit to the ways of the Lord that leads us to that  tranquil place in His rest.

Thank you for indulging me and my quest for a deeper understanding of my Lord.  I pray that this conversation has encouraged you and given you a desire to enter in His rest.