Learn to Rest in Your True Purpose

Posted on Jun 28, 2018 Topic : Inspirational/Devotional, Women's Christian Living
Posted by : Ruth Chou Simons

My soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5

I’ve been running a bit ragged lately and thinking that maybe I resist rest because I resist not being in control.

I convince myself that my plans and dreams will fall apart if I’m not working around the clock to protect and prove them…to propel them forward.

Staying ahead of the game in self-preservation has become such a normal pace in our lives that I think my heart’s forgotten that it isn’t what I was created for.

John Piper said, “Sleep is a daily reminder from God that we are not God.”

I was created to rely on Him, to trust in Him, to run out of steam, to find myself incapable of doing it all.

Unless God builds it, unless He’s in it, all the laboring is in vain.

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep (Psalm 127:1-2).

Just stop.

God has made us to grow weary, to call it quits in our laboring, and to rest.

If you feel worn out, friend, it’s a pretty good indication that our infinite God made you finite for a purpose. He is reminding you that resting isn’t just a good idea—it’s His example and standard for us.

Our all-powerful God does not grow weary, and yet He chose to rest on the seventh day of creation.

But I’m finding that it’s so much more than a day of the week or a scheduling choice. To rest is to cease striving, to be restored and refreshed. It is ultimately a physical picture of what we are called to spiritually.

The cross of Christ didn’t simply make it possible for us to take some time off from the burden of sin and death; it purchased for us true rest from its weight of shame continually.

In Christ, we can rest from our laboring in self-preservation and self-righteousness, and put our trust in a Savior who is “before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).

Take a deep breath and allow yourself to rest.

There is no significance, hope, or value you can strive for and gain for yourself that hasn’t already been made fully available to those who rest in Him.