Who here has ever been exhausted? Is there someone who has had to experience more than they thought they could bear physically and or mentally? Anybody just need some rest? I know I have (and do!)! Rest is so important. You can read my post on the importance of being still to learn more about how rest can help you and why it is important. Let me just say, finding divine rest is possible. In this post, I want to share with you exactly how you can find divine rest.
Why is finding divine rest so important? Because without it, you will experience burn out and you will not be able to live your life abundantly as God desires. Don’t you want to experience the life God has for you and fulfill his purpose? Me too. So, let’s find out how we can find divine rest and keep from giving up on our purpose and ultimately, our life.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
(Source)
1. Come to Jesus. If You Working on Finding Divine Rest, Run to Him!
If we want divine rest, we must come. In this text, come is used excitedly and urgently. Imagine Jesus excitedly saying come here, come quick because I have something to show you! We have an invite from Jesus himself to come into his presence and find the rest our souls so desperately need.
2. Labor
I am writing about how to find divine rest and I tell you you need to “labor”. Sounds like an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one. You must think I’ve lost my mind but bear with me, please.
To labor means to “work with a heaviness or grief”. Too many times as Christians, we labor for all the wrong reasons. We work ourselves in the ground to get ahead in our career, to prove to our family that we are worthy of their love and affection, to receive recognition from friends but that is not what Jesus wants of us. He wants us to labor and tell others about his salvation (how can people get to know him if nobody shares with them who God is?) but remember, the job he ask of us is easy and the burden of serving him is light. While we are serving God, we can experience divine rest from useless work and a spirit of perfectionism. Click To Tweet
3. Give Up Your Burden
“Laden” in this text means to “load up with, put a heaviness on, overload with spiritual anxiety and ritual”. Sometimes while serving the Lord, we can become laden with spiritual anxiety and the burden of ritual. Sure, we started out with good intentions of sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ but somewhere along the way, our relationship with Jesus became more of a burden than a blessing.
Do you remember when you couldn’t wait to get to church because you knew that you would be blessed and encouraged? How many times now do you dread going to the house of God? Sure, you go to church but it’s turned into something you do on Sundays. You do it simply because you’re a Christian and it is what you are supposed to do. You no longer attend because you are filled with excitement.
If you are burdened with spiritual anxiety, ritual, or anything else let me encourage you to surrender your burden to God. Get in the word not because you have to, but because you want to hear from him. There should be a joy in serving God. If you don’t feel you have joy right now, give the Lord your burden and ask him to give you joy in it’s place.
4. Rest
To rest means to “keep calm or quiet, to wait with expectation” or “cause or permit someone to stop any labor in order to recover with strength”. Rest in God. Remain calm in his presence even when the storms of life are raging all around you. Jesus will allow or permit you to rest when you need to. Dear one, you should never feel guilty when you need to rest. Take the time, set aside a moment remain calm and quiet and to rest.
Conclusion
Are you weary, burdened, laden with the cares of this world? Hurry, go to Jesus! Jesus is excitedly calling you and begging you to come to him. Spend time waiting on him with expectation and he will meet you where you are. In his presence, you will find rest for your soul, the divine rest that you so desperately need.
Mind if I take just a moment to pray for you?
Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you that you have allowed me to share with my friend here what your word says about rest. I pray that if they are burdened with the cares of this world, that you would give them your easy burden and the rest that their soul needs.
I pray that you would help them as they labor for you. Give them the words to speak. I ask that you not only help them to do the work that you’ve called them to do for your kingdom, but that you will help them not to become laden with kingdom work. I ask that they always find joy in serving you. Please comfort the person reading this and give them the strength to make it through each day. Bless my friend with peace.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen
Do you feel like you are experiencing religious anxiety as opposed to joy? Be sure to sign up for my news letter so that you can read my devotional “Rejoicing in Hope: Discovering Joy in the Journey of Life”.