And It Was Good (Rest Is Good)

And it Was Good:

"Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day." (Genesis 1:31)

The context of this verse, as you may have guessed, is the days of creation. This was during the days when God spoke everything into existence for the very first time.

"You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands." (Hebrews 1:10)

The towering trees teeming with vibrant plant life that had never existed before, now grew taller and swayed gracefully. Flowers, herbs, rivers, and more, all this was spoken into existence by the Lord. So what did God do after He reviewed all of His marvellous creation? He rested.

"Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done." (Genesis 2:1-2)

God rested. How incredible. No grandeur of miracle showcases, no creating, or working. God simply rested. What does this tell us? We as frail humans tend to tirelessly chase our tails in an aim to do what? Make more money? Accomplish more paperwork? Pay more bills? 

We work to earn, then crash and burn. Sometimes it's far too much for our weak flesh and bones to handle. What do we do? To whom can we turn in order to receive the care and restoration we need? 

You see, God rested. He rested so that we would know that it's okay to need some time to be restored. You can't spell restoration without REST, so we can conclude that the only way to be restored is to begin in rest. Rest in God restores tired and weary souls, and that is good.

"Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Are you feeling worn out? Have you worked yourself into a wall of weariness? Is the load too heavy for you to carry any longer? God's here to help, and He's telling you, "It's okay that you can't do this alone. I never meant for you to burden yourself with excess labouring. Come into My Presence and receive the much needed rest for your soul, then you shall be restored."

So today, if you're feeling the strain and stress of being heavy laden, follow God's example (is that really ever a bad choice?) and run into His arms of restoring rest. He will renew your strength.

"But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

God declared all He'd made to be good. How greatly do you think God considers resting to be? Even the Almighty Maker of the universe took a day to rest and renew, so should you. It's a tough lesson to implement (believe me, I know first hand). But, it's better to rest into restoration than be crushed and, from the shattered bits and pieces, build yourself back up (this way is far more difficult). 

"Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." (Genesis 2:3)

He rested from ALL HIS WORK, so take as long as you need to spend time with God. Listen to His leading. He will guide you in rest just as He guides you in other areas of life. Everything created by God is good, beautiful, and has a purpose, and friend, that includes restorative rest. Be blessed and renewed today.

-The Introverted Evangelist