The Meaning of Rest

Marcus made an excellent point about the difference between resting and comfort (see his comment from "On Your Mark...", Dec. 06). True, it can be extremely uncomfortable to be in the process of waiting and/or birthing the promises of God, both in the physical and spiritual realms! Why else would the Lord mention multiple times in His Word that we must cast our cares upon Him (ref. Ps. 52:22; 1 Pet. 5:7) and refrain from fear and anxiety (ref. Isa. 35:4, 54:4; Matt. 6:25-34; Phil. 4:6), promising to envolope us with His peace as we realease our burdens upon Him (ref. Phil. 4:7)? The resting I was referring to is a supernatural peace in the innerman; a knowing that no matter what the outcome, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable the circumstances are, all things are going to work out for our good according to God's amazing purposes! (ref. Rom. 8:28) This rest is a release of our plans and our timing to the Lord, knowing Who He is, trusting in His faithfulness to us and His Word, and believing in His sovereignty. But that does not necessarily mean that everything is going to work out the way we would like it to; it doesn't mean that our situations are going to happen "naturally", "expectedly", or "comfortably" either.

During my bout with food poisoning in 2002, I spent six months suffering an unrelenting stabbing pain in my abdomen, of which no one knew the root and there was no method of relief. The pain became so intense that by the 3rd month, I was no longer able to eat solid foods, and my diet was limited to liquids. Consequently, my body withered to a frighteningly skeletal shadow of what used to be a vibrant young lady. This experience was by no means natural, neither had it entered into my wildest expectations; and it was farthest from comfortable. However, during this illness, the Lord spoke to me from Ps. 91 saying, "I AM your refuge and your fortress, your God, in Whom you can trust. Surely I will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. I will cover you with My feathers, and under My wings you will find refuge; My faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you..." (vs. 2-7) His Word empowered me to rest internally in His promise that He would save me. No matter how horrendous the illness became, my Father promised me that He would cover and shield me from its dangerous affects. Yes, I physically suffered tremendously! But my spirit was at rest! The time came when even this Word was challenged (in the manner of how I had understood it) when the doctors feared for my life following the surgical procedure (see "We Have Beheld His Glory" Dec. 06). But God's peace was there! His Spirit poured into mine a supernatural peace, understanding that even if God's Word to "save me" from this deadly pestilence actually meant that He purposed to take me home to see Him face to face, then I was submitted to His sovereign will, not mine. Either way, God would prove faithful to His promise.

I was saved from that deadly pestilence and eventually, my health was restored for a season. Other illnesses have occurred since then, but God's Word still stands. He is my Rampart and my Shield. Though these weapons are forming against me, they will not prosper (ref. Isa. 54: 17) for if God be for me, then who or what can stand against me? (ref. Rom. 8:31) He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! (ref. Heb. 13:8)Though outwardly I may be wasting away, inwardly I am being renewed day by day! (ref. 2 Cor. 4:16) His supernatural peace sustains me in the storms of life. Life is not easy nor is it comfortable, but we don't have to fear, for He overcame so that we might reign with Him above the waves of trials and tribulations! (ref. Jn. 16:33; 2 Tim. 2:12)

"...anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest..." (Heb. 4:10-11)