Rest

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. … There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; ¹⁰ for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,^[e] just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:1-2, 9-11, NIV)

Last night, I was reminded to rest. Well, actually, yesterday, I was reminded twice to rest. Earlier in the day, I was asking some colleagues a question about ministry stuff and one of them asked me “Have you had time this summer to rest and reflect?”

Ummm… no.

So, in God’s wisdom, the ladies event that I attended last night (that has been planned and on my calendar for MONTHS) had a theme of rest. Women told stories of how finding God’s rest for their life helped them cope with cancer, bi-polar disorder and an aging and sick mother. Sure, there is medication involved. Sure, there is the support of the Body of Christ involved. But also, crucial to recovery and coping, there has been rest. One woman even said “It was either rest or die.” Thankfully, she chose rest.

Granted, I’m not dealing with cancer, but I wonder if I need to think of the idea of that – rest or die.

God commands Sabbath rest for us. Jesus modeled rest for us. He took time to get away and pray. Alone. With close friends. Rest.

Hebrews 4:11 (actually, go read all of Hebrews 4), tells us to make every effort to rest – to enjoy Sabbath – so that we don’t die in our disobedience. Rest or die. Wisdom from a woman surviving cancer. Wisdom from a woman surviving bi-polar disorder. Wisdom from God.

So today, I choose to rest. Thank you Creator for the timely reminder.