What does it mean to “rest” in the context of a calling from God? I’m grappling with the idea that God might be calling me to something specific, a purpose or direction for my life. I understand that following that calling will likely involve hard work, dedication, and even sacrifice. However, the concept of “rest” keeps coming up in my spiritual reading. Is “rest” a cessation of all activity, a passive waiting period, or is it something more nuanced? How can I actively pursue God’s calling while also embracing the idea of rest? What does it look like practically to rest in my calling, especially when it feels like there’s so much to be done and so little time? Is it about trusting God’s timing, releasing control, or something else entirely? And how do I discern the difference between genuine rest and simply avoiding the challenging aspects of fulfilling God’s purpose for my life? Is there a balance to be struck between striving towards a goal and surrendering to a divine plan, and what does that balance look like in practice?
Answer
Rest, in the context of a calling from God, doesn’t imply inactivity or ceasing all effort. Instead, it signifies a state of inner peace, confidence, and reliance on God’s power and guidance while actively pursuing the divine purpose. It embodies several interconnected dimensions:
Trust and Surrender: Resting in God’s calling means relinquishing the need to control outcomes and trusting that God’s plan will prevail, even when faced with challenges or uncertainties. It’s surrendering personal ambition and striving to align oneself with God’s will. This includes acknowledging that the ultimate success of the calling rests on God’s faithfulness and power, not solely on individual abilities or efforts.
Acceptance of Grace: It involves accepting God’s grace as sufficient for fulfilling the calling. This means understanding that one’s inadequacies and limitations are not barriers but opportunities for God’s strength to be demonstrated. It’s recognizing that God equips and empowers those He calls, providing the necessary resources, wisdom, and abilities.
Peace Amidst Activity: Rest in this context is not necessarily physical inactivity. It’s a state of inner peace and composure maintained even amidst the demands and pressures of fulfilling the calling. This peace comes from knowing that one is operating within God’s will and that God is in control. It enables effective action without being driven by anxiety or fear.
Renewing Strength: Resting in God allows for spiritual, emotional, and physical renewal. It involves regularly seeking God’s presence through prayer, meditation, and scripture reading. This renewal process helps to maintain perspective, clarity, and strength to persevere in the calling over the long term. It understands the importance of Sabbath principles, setting aside time for intentional rest and reflection.
Humility: Recognizing that the calling originates from God fosters humility. It’s acknowledging that one is merely a vessel through which God works. This prevents pride and self-reliance, allowing God to receive the glory for any accomplishments achieved through the calling.
Focus on Obedience: Resting in God’s calling simplifies the focus to obedience. Instead of being consumed by anxieties about the future or overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task, the emphasis shifts to faithfully executing the next step as God directs. It’s a commitment to diligent action guided by God’s specific instructions.
Detachment from Results: Ultimately, resting in God’s calling involves detachment from the need to see immediate or specific results. It’s trusting that God’s purposes will be accomplished in His timing and in His way. This doesn’t mean being indifferent to the impact of one’s efforts, but rather releasing the burden of being solely responsible for the outcome.
In summary, resting in the context of a calling from God is a dynamic state of trust, surrender, and reliance on God’s provision, enabling one to pursue the divine purpose with peace, strength, and humility. It’s a continuous process of seeking God’s guidance and empowering presence throughout the journey.
Pray This Prayer
Heavenly Father,
My heart is often restless, pulled in different directions by the demands of life and the weight of responsibility. I feel the urgency of your calling, the desire to serve you wholeheartedly, and yet, I struggle to find true peace and genuine rest.
I come before you today to ask for understanding. Help me to grasp what it truly means to rest in the context of your divine calling. I know it’s not simply ceasing activity, for even in stillness, my mind can race and my soul can churn with anxieties.
Show me, Lord, how to find rest in you, even while actively pursuing your will. Teach me to trust that you are the source of my strength and that my efforts are empowered by your grace, not solely by my own striving.
Help me to discern when to push forward and when to pause, when to strive and when to surrender. Grant me the wisdom to recognize the difference between passionate service born of love and frantic activity born of fear.
Teach me to rest in the assurance that your plans are perfect and your timing is impeccable. May I trust that even when I am resting, you are still working, orchestrating all things for good according to your purpose.
May my rest be a reflection of your own sovereignty, a declaration of my dependence on you, and a renewal of my spirit for the journey ahead. May it be a testament to my faith that you are in control, and that my calling is safe in your hands.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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