We had some hitches on the road as we travelled out of the city that weekend. We had to get to a mechanic shop and fixed the car before we could proceed with the journey. But my younger daughter was asleep in the car all through the challenges we faced. She chose to rest instead of worry. Like a child, God wants us to take a posture of rest.
Friend, rest is the default position of a child of God. Functioning from rest simply means functioning from your position in Christ, not your condition on earth (Psalms 110:1, Ephesians 2:6). Sometimes, your condition on earth would contradict your position in Christ. But you need to superimpose your position on your condition.
People become agitated when they lack revelation (2 Kings 6:15-17). You are as restful as your depth of revelation. The problem is not your problem. Your lack of revelation is. Spiritual things work by consciousness. Elisha was conscious of the divine realities around him, so he was not alarmed by the fact of the situation.
Rest is proof that you believe in what God has done or is doing for you against what the enemy seems to be doing. When you are at rest, God is at work, but when you are at work, getting agitated, you won’t see the work of God in your life. Our work in the new covenant is to labour to enter into God’s rest (Hebrews 4:9-11).
Rest is not a function of what is happening around you but what is happening within you. Jesus was resting in the midst of turbulence (Mark 4:38-40). Others saw this as being careless or irresponsible, but it was not. We are not supposed to take care. We are supposed to cast care (Matthew 6:25, 1 Peter 5:7).
In the new covenant, Sabbath is not a day but a lifestyle; the lifestyle of rest. Every day is supposed to be a Sabbath; we are supposed to cease from our own labour (Proverbs 23:4, Hebrews 4:10). The day that God earmarked for rest is also the day of worship (Exodus 20:8). We enter into rest when we live a life of worship. Worship magnifies God and minimises the problem; worry does the opposite. Rest like a child.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria