Periods of Rest

1 Chronicles 23: ²⁵ For David had said, “Since the Lord, the God of Israel, has granted rest to his people and has come to dwell in Jerusalem forever, ²⁶ the Levites no longer need to carry the tabernacle or any of the articles used in its service.” 

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With the crowd getting larger, it seemed like this place needed more organization. I implemented some software that would keep track of tithes, offerings and money for the building. Each Sunday I would park myself in the office and half way listen to the sermon on a speaker in the office.

Questions about administration soon led me to take work from the church home. I was the head of the deacons, head of the trustees, head of administration and headed towards going nuts. Is this what GOD had in mind?

• Sometimes I get overloaded.
• Sometimes I feel overwhelmed.
• Sometimes I work to the point of exhaustion.

Volunteering is a wonderful thing but sometimes the volunteer activity needs to be scaled back to have moment of rest. GOD wants me to focus on HIM when HE calls me, but HE loves me so much that HE wants me to have rest.

• GOD said to me “Come unto me all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”
• GOD said to me “I lead you beside still waters.”
• GOD said to me “Stand still and watch the power of the LORD.”

When I find myself trying too hard to please GOD it usually stems from fear or worry or doubt that HE is with me. It also means I really, really want something that GOD may have said “No” or “Wait” to. Don’t get me wrong… GOD wants me to be persistent an persevere in the battle of life, BUT HE also wants me to have periods of rest.

GOD cares for me so HE wants me to take a moment for myself so I will not get burnt out!

• Are you working hard to please GOD?
• Do you think HE is not pleased with you for some reason?
• Can you stop thinking HE is a hard task master and allow yourself to take a break once in a while?
• Can you look at service to the LORD as smaller periods of work AND rest?

It takes work

Joshua 17: ¹⁷ But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment ¹⁸ but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

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Sitting around moping that I didn’t get the job I stared at my work on my old job. It seemed even harder to do my job because I was on the brink of something new and didn’t get it. I really thought this job was going to be the pinnacle of my career. 

I got mad at GOD wondering why HE had me go through all of this waiting and juggling. My boss said, “I’m sorry you didn’t get the position, but you have a job to do here.” You mean I still have to work hard and perform?

• I sometimes make the mistake of thinking GOD is a genie who will grant me wishes instantly.
• I sometimes make the mistake of thinking GOD will make me successful without a painful process.
• I sometimes make the mistake of thinking GOD doesn’t care for me when I have to work hard to be successful.

Call it spoiled but can’t GOD just drop a pile of money in my lap and give me a life of ease? Yes, but HE doesn’t work like that in my life.  I have to work hard following HIS way.

• GOD says to me “Work will be hard on this cursed earth.”
• GOD says to me “If I don’t work I don’t eat.”
• GOD says to me “Come to ME heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

It would be naïve for me to think life will be easy. GOD’s plan includes obstacles for me to face and opposition to HIS kingdom. HE doesn’t want me to shrink into the corner, fearful of shadows rather HE wants me to get up each day ready to face what HE has in store for me. When I get tired HE provides me rest.

• Are you tired?
• Are you sick?
• Can you rest for a while and recharge in order to get back out there?
• Won’t you pace yourself to continue instead of burning out and being no good to anyone?

Bless my work

Deuteronomy 32: ¹¹ Bless all his skills, Lord,
    and be pleased with the work of his hands.
Strike down those who rise against him,
    his foes till they rise no more.”

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“Pull up the weeds” my father said so I tried to escape by doing ‘inside the house stuff.’ Wash the walls” my mother said. “I can’t escape!” I thought to myself. When they said they were sending me down to spend some time with my grandmother I got excited!

When I arrived, I plopped down near a fan because of the blistering heat. Little did I know her plans were different. I was awaken early in the morning to work harder than I ever worked before! Won’t this work ever end?

• Sometimes I complain about the work I’m doing.
• Sometimes I want to escape the work because it seems like a curse.
• Sometimes I feel stuck in a rut when it comes to my job.

What is the point? I ask myself. Doesn’t GOD want me to be rich and lazy? Apparently not! For me GOD has something different.

• GOD has given me talent to work with my mind and my hands.
• GOD has given me gifts that only I can do so I should not complain about them.
• GOD has given me work to do and I should treat it with the highest esteem.

Whether it’s pulling up weeds, cleaning toilets (yes I did this too) or planning a multi-million dollar deployment, I need to treat the work like it’s directly from GOD. I can never take credit for the results either. It is GOD who blesses my work especially when I treat work like it’s a blessing!

• Are you complaining about your job?
• Do you think what you are doing is beneath you?
• Can you look at your work as a blessing?
• Won’t you treat what you are doing with the highest regard as if GOD delivered it to you?

Where can I find a quiet place?

Numbers 7: ⁸⁹ Moses entered the Tent of Meeting. He wanted to speak with the Lord. There Moses heard the Lord talking to him. The Lord’s voice was speaking to him from between the two cherubim. The cherubim were over the place where sin is paid for. It was the cover on the ark where the tablets of the covenant were kept. The Lord spoke with Moses there.

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Seven o’clock in the morning was my flight so I had to make sure I had the rental car returned in enough time which meant I had to check out of the hotel early enough to leave in time! On the way to the airport, I mulled the day over in my mind. I thought about the agenda, who I was speaking to and what emphasis I was going to make.

Crowd of people crammed into the shuttle, then on the plane. From that point on it seemed like I was around someone all day! At least 1275 questions were asked of me that day. I went to bed exhausted.

• Some days I get too busy to stop and listen to GOD.
• Some days I don’t have time to talk to the LORD.
• Some days I have too much to do and my time with GOD just gets away from me.

When I prioritize GOD as the lowest on my list then everything else gets put in front of HIM.  I mean I have to work right? Yes, but GOD wants me to speak to HIM first and listen to what HE has to say. It’s not enough to throw an obligatory prayer at HIM to appease my “talk” quota with HIM.

• GOD wants me to find a quiet place to speak to HIM.
• GOD wants me to settle down so I can hear what HE has to say to me.
• GOD wants me to actually seek HIM every day to figure out what HE wants me to do.

Moses couldn’t wait to hear from the LORD. I have finally reached a point in my life where I need to speak to HIM to reduce the confusion and anxieties the day has to offer.

• Do you have a quiet place where you can actually speak to the LORD?
• Can you hear what HE is saying to you or do you feel HE is speaking to everyone else but you?
• Won’t you stop trying to steer GOD and let HIM work HIS plan out for you?
• Can you take time today to praise HIM for the good and bad because it’s HIS plan?