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There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.
Heb 4:9-10 (NIV)

Ever had those days where you just don’t know if you can make it through the day? Often when we enter a new season in our lives we are hopeful that things are going to be better than they were before. We start out optimistic, we hit the dreaded transition phase, and before long, we find ourselves dragging behind.

I mentioned in my post the other day that I am in the middle of moving as I enter into a new season in my life. Invariably, just mentioning the word “moving” evokes sympathy and groaning. And it should!

One of my dear friends asked me the other day if I can’t rest until everything is put away.

Yes, I am one of those people.

I remember years ago, going home after work on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, moving into a new apartment, and hosting nine people for Thanksgiving dinner the following day. Everything was in its place, pictures were hanging on the wall, and I made the entire dinner – including four pies from scratch. That makes me a “likes-everything-in-its-place-ASAP” person.

But times have changed and I have changed. I have learned the hard way that to not rest is sin.

And the wages of sin is death. It can lead to sickness, loss of joy and most importantly, it can cause your relationship with God and with others to suffer. Why then is it that we allow ourselves to be deceived into believing that we must be busy every waking moment? God set the example for us when He created the heavens and the earth and He very clearly tells us we need to rest from our own work just as He did from His.

As I continue into this new season in my life and transition through my move, I am choosing to be obedient to God’s Word. I am choosing to be intentional about resting from my work. I want to be aligned with God’s will which I know is perfect, pleasing, and acceptable, each step of the way. I want to glorify Him in each and everything I do…including rest. I now understand it is no longer acceptable to sin in this area of my life and I am grateful for God’s truth which is freeing me from this sin.

Please be intentional in this new season to rest in obedience to His Word.

Dear Heavenly Father, this is such a difficult area of sinfulness for me and for so many others. We have been deceived into believing that we have to “get things done” to the point, we are oblivious to the fact that we are sinning. Please help us, Father, recognize our sinfulness, repent from our sin, and live in the freedom and rest that is Your will for our lives. Your will be done Father, not ours. Amen.