There is a rest that can be found no other place but in believing God. The writer of Hebrews puts it this way, “For only we who believe can enter His rest,” 4:3.
Rest
The word has its origins in the Hebrew word shâbath which means to repose, that is, desist, stop, discontinue, and to abstain from all exertion action, and effort. It also means to cause or let celebrate. This is the rest God took on the seventh day after He finished all His work of creation. (See Genesis 2:2)
The way to know if you have crossed over from trying to believe God and wanting to believe God, the place where doubt and unbelief exist to the place of rest is to check what you’re working on:
For whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Hebrews 4:10
Paul said we are, right now, seated, (as in resting) in heavenly places in Christ Jesus because of His finished works (Ephesians 2:6). This is the salvation experience from beginning to end, what God in Christ has already done for us. His works were finished the Bible says, from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4:3).
When you are resting in God’s Words of promise over any situation in your life you will notice that you cease from working on it. You stop begging God to do it. You stop fretting when it doesn’t look like it will happen or that things are getting worse. You stop making your own plans. And you start celebrating, rejoicing and praising God for what He has already done.
The way to enter into His rest
First: Resting in God has everything to do with trusting in God
Maybe you’re like me; maybe it’s hard for you to trust people and even hard for you to trust God. Bad life experiences with other people will do that to you.
Let me encourage you.
Fortunately, God takes into account our humanness. As humans we are designed to build trust with other people as relationships and experiences are tested and proven. So, God in His wisdom, and grace allows us to go through the process of growing our faith. As long as it is genuine faith in Him, it doesn’t matter if it’s the size of a mustard seed, if you just hold on to your faith, it will grow!
Second: The writer of Hebrews tells us that entering into rest is work:
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. Hebrews 4:11
This verse confused me when I first read it. Are we to strive to enter in to God’s rest? Yes, that’s what it says.
I thought, “How does one strive to enter rest?” The word “strive” means: to work, to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest, be diligent, forward, endeavor, labor, and study.
The answer:
We are to keep at it. Keep believing, keep praying, keep feeding on the Word of God and worshiping Him and building a relationship with Him until we break through doubt, fear, unbelief, arguments, theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thought that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God; and take every thought and purpose captive, disarming it until we enter His rest.
Beloved, if you are not resting maybe you still have work to do.
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