Striving to Enter His Rest

It started while I was reading The Biblical Role of Elders For Today’s Church.  It was just a nice, easy read about the function of elder’s in the church.  I came across a chapter, though, that had been bugging me ever since I read it.  The whole chapter is about avoiding burnout.  What really grabbed me was this idea, “If you’re elder and you are not currently trying to avoid burnout, you are probably already on the road there.”

Scary thought, huh?  I knew it was true in my life.  I’ve even recently gotten sick just because I’ve been running my body so hard.  I’ve tried making a few adjustments, but I had some time to pray a couple of weeks ago and the Lord made it very clear that I’m supposed to take a weekend off and relax.  No ministry.  No getting together because of guilt or trying to catch up.  Just relaxing with my wife and enjoying being human.

So we did.  It was great.  I love spending time with my wife.  She is the most fun person to hang out with in my world!  I don’t remember a time where I’ve felt this rested.  It was hard though.  I began to realize what the writer of Hebrew’s describes as “striving to enter God’s rest.” In order to rest, you have to be willing to lay down your business of hand and your business of heart.  It’s something you almost have to do by faith, believing that God rewards you for not working, but trusting.

Interestingly enough, I had more divine appointments this weekend on my datenight with Christy than I’ve had in whole months.  Crazy, huh?  We can really trust that if we give our business to God and truly rest in Him, then He will do our work for us.  This is the God I want to know more of.