Rest

Many of us find that we really lack this: sleep. Whether we are working adults, or students, or in any other vocation, work sometimes calls for us beyond our sleeping time. Many of us find our sleeping time slowly becoming later and our waking times earlier; our sleep and rest becomes more irregular. Our lack of rest, as most of us have suffered by now, causes us to feel sleepy during the day as we go about our activities and adversely affects our ability to focus.

So why am I talking about rest. First and foremost, we need that 27 hours a day, so that we can afford to sleep more and not compromise on our work. Or, we could manage our time and complete our tasks more efficiently and effectively so that we can afford to sleep more. I agree it is easier said than done, work is tough; I’m also suffering from a lack of sleep that causes me to be lethargic at times during lessons. Stay strong and keep hoping in the Lord! God is the God of all things, include our rest. His blessings sometimes come in the form of a good night’s sleep or some free time to relax. These help our bodies to have physical rest. Indeed, since God is the God of rest, let us commit, apart from our work, our times of rest to him as well.

Since we’ve mentioned physical rest, next up, we have relational rest. Our relationships can be tense, and sometimes even sour. These have negative effects not only on us, but also the people around. As we begin to centre our life, our relationships on God, we will begin to realise that we will start to commit more of our relationships to God. Gradually, regardless of the state of our relationships with others, we can allow God to have his way in us. Emotionally and relationally, there will be less tension on our part, which hopefully would also diffuse to the other parties. Surrendering our relationships to God is something that we all have to learn on our own, throughout the duration of our lives. Let us continue to seek God and allow him to take the reins of our relationships, that we may find rest in him.

Spiritual rest is also part and parcel of, and I feel that it is foundational in, finding rest in God. Whether we suffer physically or emotionally or relationally, if we continue to focus on God, by the grace and timing of God, we will be able to overcome. Physical and relational difficulties can and may distract us, although there are times when God chooses to use these difficulties to turn our eyes upon him. Thus, having physical and relational rest can also help us to focus on God and find spiritual rest in him, vice versa.

All in all, let us centre our rest on God, and through and by the grace and power of the Lord, we will experience rest in him.

Ted