Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.  Psalms 37:7

The book of James is pretty clear that we have all been given work to do for the Lord. He says our faith without works is dead. This is also understood from Ephesians 2:8-10. There, the Apostle Paul teaches that we do not do works to be saved by God so that we cannot boast that our works have saved us. He tells us that it’s only through the grace of God – through our faith in Jesus Christ – that we are saved.

These two passages clearly state that if we are children of God, He will give us works to do. It is also illustrated here: “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all,” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

Early in the scriptures, the Lord God Himself sets an example for us that there will be work (He created the heavens and the earth in six days and called it work, Genesis 2:2.) but that He also has provided a time of rest for us. Genesis 2:3 says, “Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

Working off the principle that every word of God is true and that God continues to keep His Word that says He blesses obedience and curses disobedience, then shouldn’t it be important to keep the word of God, even about rest?

Resting in the Lord is not necessarily relaxing in a hammock on a sunny beach. It doesn’t have to do with just physical rest, though that is important for our bodies to keep moving. Do we rest in the sovereignty of God?

This is sometimes evident in people in ministry. They work without rest because they believe that if they don’t do it, right now, then it won’t get done and God will be disappointed in them, no matter how exhausted and in need of rest they might be.

One example of this is in families so devoted to the abolition of abortion that they spend many hours each week at abortion “clinics” to try to persuade women to turn away from killing their babies. This is a worthy ministry. However, often the missionary to mothers intent on murder is emotionally exhausted at the end of the time there and there is a family at home – spouse and children – who get an exhausted Mom.

Other full-time ministry workers also have this devotion to the work that brings exhaustion or strained relationships. Devotion to our work is good but failure to rest and enjoy others is not healthy for any of God’s people.

Sadly, it seems there is still a thought out there that the work of the Lord does not include what we do at home, how we care for our husbands and children, or even our grandchildren (Deuteronomy 4:9). If we take a look at the Proverbs 31 woman, we will see that her highest priority was her home and family. She was considered virtuous with more worth than rubies because of her fear of the Lord.

When we “rest in the Lord,” we set right priorities knowing that God is capable of achieving all the works He has for people do with or without us, as He decides. Resting in Him means trusting Him to provide for what He has for us to do, physically and intellectually with regard to strength for the work and spiritually with regard to responsibility to keep His Word.

Truly, it is through the grace of God that He has told us to rest in Him and to rest from our work(s). Are you and I resting when we need to or are we working too much, ignoring the Word of the Lord?  Would we rather do works, hoping for God’s favor or obey God (including resting) and receive His blessing for obedience?