Faith and Rest

Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:25-30

I was done Friday. Toast. Burnt toast, more precisely. Exhausted, sore, barely able to make it through dinner, and finally, after dosing off in the chair several times, I went to bed. The older I get the more days I have like that, the more aches and pains I experience. I’ve had bursitis in my elbows, shoulders, and, more recently, my knees. Some days, like Friday, my back aches so badly I can barely stand up and walk across the room. Now, I promised myself I would not become that old guy who only talks about his latest physical problem. And that’s not what this is. Nor is it a plea for sympathy. I’m not asking anyone to feel sorry for me. Considering what other people are going through my problems are like comparing a pimple to a tumor.

No, this is a declaration of praise to my Creator, God. After a good night’s rest, I woke up Saturday morning ready to engage in another day. When I went to bed, I felt like I had used every bit of energy, strength, and ability my body had left. Somehow, by God’s grace, a night of sleeping rejuvenated me. My muscles relaxed, my energy stores resupplied, my will revived. All from resting. Of course, I shouldn’t be surprised. God designed us for this rhythm of work and rest. Six days of labor and a day of rest. Work and then sleep.

There is also a spiritual side to this work/rest dynamic. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). It is an endlessly tiring thing to work to earn God’s favor. Our sinful nature guarantees we will fail at the outset. But Jesus comes along and invites us into the release of weariness through the rest of faith.