One of the issue that we are facing today is how can we find REST. As we are living in the era of pandemic of Covid-19, and what is certain in front of us is the uncertainty. We might be struggling to be able to rest and find rest.
I guess, that’s what bring me to write it down. And hope you will be blessed and be able to find REST in Who God is.
There are 4 steps that we need to go through before we can find the genuine REST in God.
Why have to be in God? Coz He is the beginning and the end, He is the Alpha and Omega, and His Words are constant, always Yes and Amen. When He said that He is in control, it means He is in control.
Joseph
I remember one of the characters in the bible. His name is Joseph. Yes, Joseph. I guess all of us very familiar with his story.
God gave him a dream when he was 17 years old, and he happily shared it with his brothers, his brothers already hated him, they hated him even more, then he was sold to become a servant at Potifar house, being accused by Potifar’s wife, thrown into the Prison, then promoted into Palace to serve as the right hand of Faraoh.
His life was so drama. Yet, he is no drama.
There was no story about him grumbling, complaining to God, sulking, angry, etc. Instead, I think he must do the best he can do as he was always be in charge of every place God put him.
He found favour when he was a slave in Potifar House. He was appointed as the supervisor in Potifar house and over all that he had. (Gen 39:4)
When he was in prison, he supposed to be the prisoner, yet he become in charge to care all the prisoners who were in the prison, and whatsoever done there. He was in charge! (Gen 39:22)
When someone in charge, it means he is trustable, trustworthy, and he is giving the best to his ability.
He was even forgotten after giving a precise dream interpretation of the butler.
After TWO full years, then the chief butler remembers him. Only then Joseph was moved from Prison into Palace.
Again, I see no complaints written in the bible throughout the years in the Potifar house nor Prison. He really experience REST in God.
REST
How can he experience such REST in the restless situation? His future is uncertain. He was a slave. He was a prisoner. Yet, he did not give up, instead always giving his best.
The first things that came into my mind were, he must be remembered of those dreams that God has given to him when he was 17 years old.
To put it into our context.
How can we find REST in GOD, like Joseph did?
- Read the Words of God
Why we need to read the Words of God?
Coz the Words of God contains His promises over us.
That time, Joseph don’t have a bible like we do. Yet he must remembered the Torah that he has been reading since he was young. And also, the dreams that God has given to him. It becomes God’s promises over his life!Do you know how many promises were found in the Bible?
According to Everet R. Storms, a Canadian schoolteacher, there are 8,810 promises found in the Bible.Whenever we read His words, our faith get strengthened. Whenever we read His promises to us, our faith arise.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”- Romans 10:17
I believe that by speaking God’s promises, that dreams that God gave him, Joseph gain his strength and having his faith again and again, day after day.
Aside from His promises, by reading the Word of God, we will get to know His characters, what He likes and don’t, what is His will, the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, we get to know Who He is.
The more we read His letter to us (the bible), the more we get to know Who He really is.
It’s like when we are talking with someone, texting them, chatting with them, we get to be closer and closer. From stranger, we can move into acquaintance, friend, best friend, and even husband & wife.
So, again the importance of reading the Word of God, not only that we can be strengthened in our faith, but also we got to know Who God is.
- Embrace His Love
When we gotta know Him. We will be able to open our heart and be ready to embrace His love.Once we can embrace His love, we have to love God with all of our heart, our soul and our mind. That’s the first commandment. (Mat 22:37)How about the second commandment that is not less important than the first one?
You shall love your neighbour as yourself. (Mat 22:39)
Hence, after you love God, you have to learn how to love yourself first. Only then you will be able to love your neighbour as yourself.
- Surrender
Once we are in love with God, and we are able to embrace His love.
We then learn how to surrender to God.Sometimes due to circumstances, we have no choice but to surrender. For example, Jonah, only after 3 days 3 nights he was inside the fish’s stomach, then he surrender to God.Sometimes, it can be because we are close or familiar with someone, we kinda “surrender” or entrusting that someone with what we love.
For example, a friend of mine, whenever she went to the supermarket, as her hands are full, she will then “surrender” (read: entrusted) her 2-years old son to her husband. Yet, she cannot trust her husband fully as a lot of time, the kids will be out-of-the-safe-zone under the father’s supervision and her husband will not aware of that.
I believe, a lot of us, we also trying to surrender, yet we cannot fully trusting God.
How can we surrender to God? By going back to point no 1 & 2, by reading His Words, His promises and embrace His love.
He can turn around whatever devil meant for evil into goodness. Never Give Up!
Gen 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives - Trust in Him
We can only reach this level, only when we are able to belief whatever Words He said to us, whatever Promises He gave to us, and able to surrender. Then the last things we can do is to trust Him.Trust hat He will always be in control. Though we cannot see His hand, we can always believe in His heartRomans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lordwith all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.When you can trust Him fully – only then you can find REST in Him.
When we can trust Him fully – only then we can find REST in Him. Yet, you have to go through step 1-3 before reaching to point no 4.
So again, REST.
Read His Words, Embrace His Love, Surrender, Trust Him.
Mat 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away