Yes, you read the title correctly. The revelation I’m about to share with you may feel like something you already knew, but actually, you didn’t know.
When many believers hear about rest, they automatically assume they understand what it is. That is because rest is a common concept. Unfortunately, very few believers truly understand what rest is, and even fewer actually enjoy it.
In this article, I will not only teach you the correct understanding of rest, but I will also show you how to enjoy it.
Why is this even important?
Well, it is important because we all need rest, whether we think it’s necessary or not. If you believe you have enough rest, you are welcome to skip this article, but remember what the title says.
I was once in a position where I thought I understood rest, until I got this revelation. Since then, I’ve always been grateful that the Lord gave me this revelation. Rest became an everyday reality for me, though it is very paradoxical.
Don’t worry, stick around, and you’ll get every explanation you need…
The Mistake of Many Believers
Let me start by outlining the common error that believers make when it comes to God’s rest. You’ve likely made this error at some point.
Many believers either assume they already have rest or they assume rest means no work. Those who assume they already have rest never seek God’s rest. Those who assume rest means no work can’t wrap their minds around rest, which makes them think rest is unachievable.
These are the two extremes you must avoid if you want to have a chance at enjoying God’s rest. The true definition of rest is quite puzzling, I must admit. But I’ll try my best to explain.
The result of these two extremes is that many believers struggle to believe God when He promises them rest. They see the promises of God as too good to be true. On the surface, they confess that nothing is impossible with God, but their actions give a completely different testimony.
If you don’t intentionally seek to understand rest, you will continue living a lie, thinking you are in God’s rest. Today, I’m doing my best to bring you a step closer to God’s rest.
I hope you’ve clearly understood the mistake. If that is the case, let me provide some context before I share the revelation
Solution Context
Let’s start by focusing on a very common scripture that we often quote off the top of our heads.
Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
You already knew this scripture, right? This is arguably the simplest scripture in the Bible about rest. Keep it in mind as we get a little deeper.
Second scripture…
Genesis 2:2-3
And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
This is the first time the idea of rest is mentioned in the Bible. The interesting thing is that God is the one resting. Sounds simple, right?
Let me ask you a question: was God tired after all the creation work?
Hold that thought, we’ll get to it.
Let me give you one more scripture…
Hebrews 4:9-11
There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
Things are getting a bit complex here. Remember these three scriptures, as we get into the revelation…
The Revelation
Jesus asked us plainly in Matthew 11:28 to go to Him, so that He gives us rest. The thing I want you to note about this scripture is that Jesus subtly tells us that He is the giver of rest.
This is very important, especially when you consider that people claim rest from other sources other than Jesus. Some say, I moved to a new place, now I have rest. Others say, I retired, now I have rest.
We are now approaching that part I told you is very paradoxical…
In Genesis 2:2-3, the Bible tells us that God ended His work of creation and rested on the seventh day. This is where I asked you if God was tired after all the work of creation.
The simple answer is that God was never tired. He chose to rest because rest was the next good thing after creation. God thoroughly enjoyed creating. After that, He entered the next phase, which is called rest.
At this point, two things must be clear in your mind;
One, is that rest is something tangible, under the custody of Jesus, that He hands to you when you go to Him.
Two, is that we don’t rest because we are tired, rather, we rest because we are done with our work.
This brings me to the last point…
Hebrews 4:9-10 assures us that there is a promise of rest for believers that still stands. In verse 11, we are commanded to be diligent in making sure we enter that rest.
This confirms the first point I shared about rest being a tangible possession under the custody of Jesus.
But here is the big question: Is rest something we experience after our life on earth, or is it something we can experience on earth?
Well, rest is something we experience in our life in Christ, whether we are on earth or in heaven.
I know you might still be confused. Let me break this down step by step.
What this means for you…
Rest is what comes next after work is done. Work is not something that makes you tired; rather, work makes you fulfilled.
The things people do in the name of work that make them exhausted is called toilsome labor. Toilsome labor is a curse that God pronounced as punishment for Adam and His children for not appreciating the rest God had given him in the Garden of Eden.
So, our calling today is to get out of this curse called ‘toilsome labor,’ and enter rest.
How exactly do we do this?
Each day, seek the Lord to give you a way out of your toilsome labor. Seeking the Lord is the work. Getting out of toilsome labor will mark the end of your work, and you will instantly enter God’s rest.
God bless you!