Rest

6 min read

1 Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Psalm 62:1-2

Today is my first day back at work. I was planning to start on Tuesday, but Pastor David told me to just come in on November 1, which I am very thankful for. It’s like finding money hidden in the crack of your sofa cushions! I’m also thankful for Pastor Nathan taking the reigns and holding down the fort during my break. And of course, I must also mention all the shepherds and servants of Canvas who faithfully attend to their ministries week in and week out. I would not be able to take the kind of break that I did without the trust and love and faithfulness of everyone in this GCC and Canvas family. Because of all of you, I was truly able to get a bit of rest.

Rest is not an easy thing to come by. Life is busy and often chaotic. One of the mantras I hold on to in my life is that nothing happens until it happens. And that is because life is busy and often chaotic. In one way, that is the human condition, and finding rest in such a state is not easy.

Add to that the deceptions of this world. The world conditions the human heart so that it desires leisure and comfort. And so we hungrily chase after leisure and comfort. We will wear ourselves out to stick an image of ourselves into social media images of “resting” and then find that we have no energy left for the “work” of life.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with taking vacations. But vacations are a waste of time and money if our souls cannot find rest in God in the first place. And finding true rest in God means being able to find rest as we live day to day for HIS purposes, not ours.

Pastor Mark Lee said in a message at the CSBC annual meeting that while there is still one person in California who is not saved, there is still work to do. His reminder convicted my heart, and I made a recommitment to give my very best to live for the purposes of God.

And then, God reinforced this recommitment in yesterday’s Bible reading:

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:7-11

And then today, God reminds me that living for HIS purposes is not possible unless my soul finds rest in Him.

Blessed be God the Father, the Giver of life, and blessed be His Son Jesus Christ to whom I am yoked through the Holy Spirit, that my soul may find rest even in the busyness and chaos of this world that needs Jesus and needs Jesus now. In His precious name. Amen.