As we get older, I have discovered we need more rest. This is in direct contradiction to what my mother told me when I was 40 something, when she said we need less rest. I discovered what she really meant is that our sleep patterns change, and we need less sleep at night, but more nanna naps during the day. I was quite disappointed. I was hoping to be able to fit more activity into the day. Life certainly has been a learning experience!
Besides the joys of getting older, I have been “blessed” with an hereditary neurological condition, spinocerebellar ataxia type 6. The symptoms are many, but one is fatigue. This is tiredness to the nth degree. There are days where I can barely function, and spend most of the day on the couch. This can happen as often as twice a week, and because the last few days have been busy (for me), I think the need to rest will descend on me like a ton of bricks, on Sunday afternoon, or Monday morning.
This has made me a bit of an expert on rest. Physical rest is not spiritual rest. You can rest physically, but not spiritually, and visa versa. When I am fatigued, I rest physically, sometimes sleeping (I have been known to have needed 4 nanna naps during the day), sometimes reading, sometimes watching tv (this usually brings on the nanna naps), using the computer…basically doing things that are enjoyable but restful. I do not for example go outside and pull weeds out, or ride the exercise bike for 30 minutes.
On a normal day, I will do some gardening, some housework, some exercise bike riding, some piano playing, all interspersed with rest times. This method of “pacing” myself means my days of exhaustion and fatigue don’t happen quite so often.
But does any of this give me spiritual rest? Well the piano playing and the gardening come close….but really no. There is really one way to get spiritual rest, and that is through and in Jesus Christ. No amount of going to church on Sabbath and then spending the afternoon “resting” in whatever way you choose, as long as it doesn’t include doing your own pleasure, or actually expending any energy, will give you spiritual rest.
Jesus called all you were weary to come to Him and He would give you rest. Matt 11:28-30. This is weariness of soul, not physical tiredness. To achieve this rest, we need to turn to Him. He will give us a new heart, and make us a new creation. He will write His laws on our hearts, and He will give us peace. Joy. Rest. And once you have rested in Him, you know you can trust Him for everything. Everything! You will never fear again! You have that blessed assurance. Not only is Jesus thine, but you are His, and He will not let anything or anyone take you out of His hand. John 10:28. Whatever happens to you, good or bad, He is there. Even if you physically die, you know that you will rise at the last day to meet Him in the air, with all the other faithful departed! And in the meantime you have spiritual rest. Complete spiritual rest.
Remember, physical rest does not bring spiritual rest. Spiritual rest means your spirit is in a state of rest and peace even if you are doing a hard day’s work, or if you are stressed about something.
The ancient Israelites were given the sabbath by God. To mark them as His “peculiar” people, and to point them to Christ. Not many of them “got it”, because God said “they shall not enter my rest”. Hebrews 4:5. They rested on the Sabbath, sure. They got their physical rest, but they missed the point. There was more to this resting than inactivity. It has to be spiritual. It wasn’t enough to be on the head level, it had to be on a heart level. You know when you “know” a person, as in they are an acquaintance, but a member of your family, a spouse, a boy/girl friend, you know on a much deeper level. You “know” them with your heart as well. It is much more intimate. So it is with spiritual knowledge and spiritual rest. It is intimate. It is soul to soul, spirit to spirit. It is deep within your being. That is why it is so refreshing. Physical rest cannot touch it.
They both have separate jobs. You are physically tired, you go to sleep, you sit down for a while. You relax for a while, and you are physically refreshed.
But spiritual rest. You rest in Jesus, your spirit is at rest. It is at peace. Your inner being is at rest. TWENTY FOUR SEVEN! There is nothing to compare with this!
Come to me all who are laden and I will give you rest. What a promise!
Light of Christ 