It’s the new year and we all have resolutions and promises we’re believing God for.
To be honest, I struggled with creating resolutions for 2023. I am a go getter so it’s the norm for me to be chasing and trying to make the next move. As I was having my prayer time I kept asking God why can’t I think of the next stage and next moves for my life. Simply put, God told me to rest. Don’t chase anything, don’t look for the next big opportunity, just rest in his presence. When I say rest , I mean go back to the basics of just learning who God is and not what he can do for you.
I struggled with this revelation to the point that I came back a couple days later just to reconfirm what God told me to do lol. Once again, all I heard was rest. In addition, God confirmed this revelation through my conversation with my accountability sister in Christ. I wrestled with this because I don’t know how to rest. I asked God does this mean I stop working? Do I sleep more? Do I go on more vacations? I really did not understand what rest he was calling me into.
Basically God told me to go back to the basics of dwelling in his presence rather than only coming to him prayer to ask for something. Rest meant no more worrying how the provision will come, when the next opportunity will happen, and when the promises will happen. Simply rest on who God is. He is a provider, a helper, source of strength, prince of peace, friend, comforter, and so much more.
Like many others in our 20s, I convinced myself that 20s were all about being on my grind and making things happen before 30; then I can rest . We’ve been so accustomed to chasing dreaming and living such a fast pace life that we cannot sustain, that we forget who God is. Many of us consider rest “soft life” , laziness or being stagnant. But it isn’t any of that, true rest comes from knowing and understanding who God is every season of your life.
Ecclesiates 3:1-6 states it best:
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
…..
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching“
Ecclesiastes 3:1-6 NLT
I emphasized the final part in bold because I believe it’s what God means when he says rest. From a practical standpoint, do your part and be proactive when believing God for his promises. But from a spiritual standpoint, leave the rest to God once you’ve done your part.
Be careful though:
Be careful in your rest season to not forget about God. Make sure that you are ALWAYS praying. Don’t be lazy or complacent. At the end of the day, everything in life is spiritual which means that we must remain close to God to defeat every tactic of the enemy. Prayer is our weapon, it’s how we hear from God and remain in constant relationship with him.
“But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 8:11-14 NLT
Simply put, do not become prideful or lazy when you have entered a season of rest.
For all my dream chasers and go betters, find rest in knowing that God will perfect everything that concerns you (Psalm 138:8). For those going through a storm, remember that Jesus slept through the storm and calmed the waves ( Matthew 8:23-27). For those worried about where the provision will come from, find rest in knowing he is a provider ( Matthew 6:31). For those struggling to find peace mentally, find rest in knowing God is the Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6).
I’m relearning who God is in my life. He is my father. Just like parents find joy in seeing their children resting in their arms, God is the same . I’m learning that every season doesn’t have to be struggle or chasing. I’m learning that I can go to bed and not worry about what tomorrow will bring. I’m learning that I have a father who is concerned with even the things I consider small.
Rest, God has you❤️
