March 12, 2023
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28–30
“I lay down and slept. I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.”
Psalm 3:5
Did you move your clocks forward last night? Whether you like it or not, Daylight Saving Time is here again! It is the practice of advancing clocks by one hour during the summer months to extend daylight in the evenings. While the primary goal of Daylight-Saving Time (DST) is to save energy and make better use of natural light it calls for some adjustments. There are reports of some physical disturbances such as sleep disruption of the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, causing difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up in the morning. There are also reports of mood changes, cardiovascular problems, productivity as well as other physical problems associated with fatigue.
There are some alarming statistics regarding many who suffer from a lack of sleep, however, there are some differences between sleep and rest. Sleep is a specific type of rest that involves a state of unconsciousness, while REST can be either conscious or unconscious and involves any period of relaxation or inactivity that allows the body and mind to recover from the stresses of daily life. We can agree however that both sleep and rest are essential to our overall health and well-being.
The Psalmist says in Psalm 37:7 that we can “rest in the Lord” which is a frequently used expression in the Bible and often in Christendom. The Hebrew word “REST” is translated to mean “to be at peace,” “to be still,” “and to be quiet or calm.” However, some Bible translations say it differently: “Rest in the Lord” (NASB and NKJV) “Be still before the Lord” (ESV and NIV), “Quiet down before God” (MSG) “Be silent before the Lord” (CSB), “Surrender yourself to the Lord” (GW), Rest in Jehovah (ASV) and “Be still in the presence of the Lord” (NLT). No matter which version you are reading from, God wants us to “REST IN HIM!” These versions convey the essential idea that to “REST” and be at peace, one must dwell in the presence of the Lord, and surrendered to His lordship.
In the hustle and bustle and often craziness of our modern lives, many times we just think of the importance of our physical, and emotional rest. Yet, throughout the Bible, we see that it’s easy to forget the importance of our spiritual rest which is not only important but essential to our relationship with God. From the creation story where God rested on the seventh day. In Matthew chapter 11, Jesus is inviting His disciples to come and rest in Him!
When the psalmist says in Psalm 37:7, “Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him” he’s not talking about physical or emotional rest that involves taking a break from activity, relaxing, napping, or stopping to gather strength to continue or complete some physical undertaking. Rest in the Lord refers to a spiritual rest from confusion, worry, stress, and useless human effort, and a break from all internal, external, mortal, and spiritual enemies. We need to take time to Rest in God making it a regular part of our spiritual practice.
The Word of God Offers Us An Invitation To REST!
Physical REST
- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
- “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” Psalm 127:2
- “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.” – Exodus 34:21
Emotional REST
- “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
- “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” – Psalm 23:1-3
Spiritual REST
- “Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7
A RESTFUL 
HEART: Matthew 11:28–30. Life happens and As Believers in Christ, we are not granted immunity from the stresses and
storms of life. Nevertheless, we have a choice about how we react to those storms. We can whine and complain or have a natural tendency to run around frantically looking for help, trying to save ourselves from trouble, disappointments, and the calamities of life. We can either have a pity party or we can make a conscious decision to Rest in the Lord’s Presence. We can either waste our time worrying or trust in the Lord to take care of us. ACCEPT THE INVITATION TODAY! Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
FATHER GOD: Thank You for Your Word that teaches us how to live and glorify You! Help us to accept Your invitation to come to You and REST, in You Father, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen!