Resting in God

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man that carries out wicked schemes. Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do no fret; it leads only to evil doing. For evildoers will be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord, they will inherit the land."  Psalms 37:7-9   Rest: quiet; repose; a state free of motion or disturbance; peace; a pause; to be quiet or still; to be undisturbed. ~ Webster 1828

 

This post concludes the discussion on the verses in Psalms 37:3-9. I hope you have enjoyed reading my insights into one of my favorite Psalms, and that your heart was encouraged and renewed through the amazing truths found in these verses. God is continually teaching me deeper implications to apply to my own life, heart and mind from this Psalm, and really all Scripture in general, and I am overjoyed to be able to share them with you.

 

Moving into the command to rest in God, I find that this message is greatly needed especially in this culture and society where "rest" is extinct, work is abused and immoderate, worry is prevalent, and distractions are overwhelming. Our bodies and spiritual lives are malnourished from the lack of true rest in God. We have lost the pure and beneficial art of repose and rest, which is desperately needed in our physical and spiritual lives, and is commanded by God in Scripture.

 

Just as our bodies need time to slow down and sleep, our hearts need time for reflection and quietness, so that we can be fully aware and re-focused in our personal journeys with Christ. To have time to contemplate our previous words spoken, dealings with others, status of our relationship with Christ, and attitude in life is valuable and prescribed by God for our benefit. Our souls need rest and undisturbed time.

 

In the moments of quiet time spent with God, we are better able to hear the whispers of His Spirit and the clarified sounds He has created around us: the birds singing, children's laughter, your own breathing. In these moments we realize more that God is near, His presence is with us and within us.

 

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalms 46:10

 

Like the tempest winds provoking the variable sea, our aggressive lives cause confusion and disturbance in our spirits that consume our passion for God and the caring for others. We struggle to remain afloat. Worry diverts our minds from the empowering effect of meditation on God and His Word. Life becomes suffocating.

 

But we need to listen and obey the words that our good Master is calling out to us - "Hush, be still..." (Mark 4:39)

 

Worry, or fretting, only causes harm. When our minds deviate from the assurance of God's sovereignty and purpose and become engulfed in the snares of worry and anxiety, we lose the precious rest that comes from a heart at peace and secure in the love and supremacy of God. If we trust, delight, commit, and rest in God (as we have studied in these verses), they envelop our souls and dictate our actions and thoughts to test if we are pleasing God.

 

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him." Psalms 62:5

 

Another important dimension to enjoying true rest is finding that rest in God alone. Many attempts at "rest" can only leave us empty, and our souls exhausted from searching. We oftentimes try to fill ourselves with that which does not sincerely satisfy. We must go to God to find the rest our souls desire. One of my favorite quotes from Saint Augustine says this:

"Our heart is restless, until it rests in Thee..."

 

How true and revealing. Our heart of hearts needs, craves, fellowship and rest in God alone, and we find that sweet rest in God's presence, drawing near in prayer, and feasting on the Word.

 

My friend, may you find rest for your souls in God alone, making time in everyday for rest and peace, to reflect and re-focus, to abide and adore in your Creator and Sustainer. Remember that Satan uses many tactics to distract you from being devoted to Jesus. In any way he can, he will uses the duties of life, appointments and meetings, phone calls and e-mails, exhaustion and piles of laundry and dirty dishes to distract you from the rest God calls you to have in Him.

 

Listen to His voice. He's calling for you to come away with Him for awhile, sit at His feet, and breathe in His transforming presence. Run to His arms for the rest your soul needs and craves.

He's waiting for you. Rest in God.