On this special date of Labor Day that we set aside to celebrate the American hard work ethic that has brought us this far, many of us have the best intentions of getting extra rest. Yet, deliberate relaxation can be challenging for certain personalities!
I remember Labor Day weekends growing up when we had various projects on the agenda. We organized the garage, sorted through outgrown clothes in our closets, and did yardwork in the cooler evening hours, to name a few memories.
As an adult, I continued the same trend. For a day off work, I wrote an unreasonably long to-do list of all I wanted to accomplish. Relaxing felt like a waste of time! Why is it so hard for some of us to rest? The Holy Spirit, as a wonderful Teacher, has been teaching me the value of rest—the art of being still. (Psalms 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."
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) After all, it’s what God Himself modeled perfectly for us in the very beginning of Creation’s story. (Genesis 2:1-3
So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested* from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
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The Psalmist paints a dramatic display highlighting God’s work. We are drawn into the vivid descriptions of His powerful activities:
“He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners...opens the eyes of the blind...lifts up those who are weighed down...protects the foreigners…[and] cares for the orphans and widows.” (Psalms 146:6-9
He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry.The LORD frees the prisoners. The LORD opens the eyes of the blind.The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down. The LORD loves the godly. The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked.
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That’s not all!
“The LORD is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name...He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures. He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry.” (Psalms 147:2-9
The LORD is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! The LORD supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust. Sing out your thanks to the LORD; sing praises to our God with a harp. He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in mountain pastures. He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the young ravens when they cry.
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The picturesque illustrations of God’s work continue in Psalm 147, filling us with awe and wonder of all our Maker is actively performing. Still, we remember His established priority of rest, when He refers to that critically important time of resting that He took Himself. (Hebrews 4:1-11
God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God.* For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said,"In my anger I took an oath: `They will never enter my place of rest,'"*even though this rest has been ready since he made the world. We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: "On the seventh day God rested from all his work."* But in the other passage God said, "They will never enter my place of rest."* So God's rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted:"Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."* Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come. So there is a special rest* still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world. So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.
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Even Jesus emphasized His need for rest after His long days of ministering to people. (Matthew 14:22-23
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
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, Mark 6:30-32
The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.
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) He demonstrated the importance of taking time to rest and be alone with His Father. Those were exhausting days for Him, as He (in fleshly form) felt the same fatigue we do. If resting was a necessity for Jesus, how much more so for us!
I’ve personally found the permission to rest by Jesus’ example. In my times of thorough exhaustion, I realized I had been pushing myself too much—something God never intended. Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take 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 11:28-29
Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
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How liberating it has been to have a day off work and simply relax—without feeling guilty about it that I’m not conquering my to-do list! What I have discovered is that I’m actually more effective and can accomplish more when I’ve had adequate rest.
Be encouraged to let go of the work-cycle and enjoy Labor Day for what it is!
“Father, I love how You exemplified the importance of resting. With a grateful heart, I receive Your gift of setting aside my work, letting You restore and refresh me as I rest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Glena has worked at CBN since January 2021. She loves being outdoors and doing creative DIY projects. Her home is in Texas with her two precious dogs, Victor and Trudie.
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