Finding Rest

28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:27-29, NIV)

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 2:2,3, NIV)

12 "Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed..." (Exodus 23:12, NIV)

2It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves? (Psalm 127:2, The Message)

Just a few days ago I was struggling with my lot as a stay at home mommy. I expressed to a friend in a note that being a mommy isn't always fulfilling or joyful. Yet, at the end of this note I realized how selfish I was being and really how thankful I should be for having the opportuntiy and privilege to stay home and raise our DearDaughter for the Lord.

Well, I was becoming dissatisfied with our mundane routine and each day just seemed to run into the next as if it were all the same day. Along with the unpleasant challenges that DearDaughter brought every day, I no longer found motivation to be a mommy and I really started to dislike it. I wanted mommy-hood to just all go away!

This friend whom I wrote this note to called me and listened to my struggle. By this friend's stories of her own experiences, I realized that there was something missing in my life, REST.

When I was in college there was ONE day I looked forward to, Sunday, the Lord's Day, a day of rest. Sunday was the day that motivated me to work hard all week so that I can do absolutely nothing but REST on that day. My soul found rest in God as we worshipped and praised Him at church and my mind and body found rest while I napped in between the worship services. I began my week in REST and I was ready to labor hard once Monday came.

This practice of resting followed me after college into my marriage, but it stopped when DearDaughter came along. I couldn't stop taking care of DearDaughter on Sundays and so my Sunday schedule looks exactly like my Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday....schedule, which is why each day seems to run into the next. As I listened to my DearFriend's stories and how she made time to REST, I realized that it was REST that I was missing.

Thus, I went back to God's Word to see what He says about rest.

First, rest is a BLESSING of faith. When we trust in the Lord and His good purpose for all the saints, when we trust in His unfailing love, when we trust in his all conquering power and might, and when we trust Him to carry our burdens and our cares for us, He promises REST for our souls. (Matthew 11:27-29) - Exemplifies finding rest for our souls, carry the Lord's yoke, which is easy and light.

Second, rest is CREATED by God and for God. On the 7th day God rested from His labor of creating and made it holy. (Genesis 2:2,3) - Exemplifies how we should rest, make it holy.

Third, rest is a COMMAND. We are commanded to rest so that we may be refreshed. (Exodus 23:12) - Exemplifies finding rest for our bodies, stop working.

Lastly, rest is a PROMISE. God enjoys giving rest to those He loves, to those who seek Him and His will. (Psalm 127:2) - Exemplifies finding rest for our minds, not worry.

There may be more verses about rest and as I study God's Word even more, I know I will be comforted in knowing that REST IS GOOD and that I should endeavor to find rest for my soul, my body, and my mind, all in the Lord and for the Lord.