I think one of the biggest struggles, as one who believes and follows God, is probably one of the simplest things we can actually do. Something that literally requires zero effort for the fact that everything has already been done for us by Jesus being obedient to the point of death, breathing His last breath, proclaiming “it is finished” before one of the greatest climactic scenes took place. Something so profound happened that required zero effort on our end. This one thing separates our faith in Jesus from every other religion in the entire world.
Which is…
Rest.
That’s it.
Simply abide and reside in the Father for He says “you are Mine”.
(Isaiah 43:1-7)
As simple as it may sound it’s truly a test; it’s something God is gradually and patiently walking me through.
The biggest challenge is trying not to beat myself up and to just have grace with myself when I think I missed it or didn’t “do” it right. Well, the funny thing is that resting in God isn’t doing at all. It’s not really an action we achieve but more like a state of being, it’s something you don’t strive for, instead you just receive and abide. I know, I know it sounds weird or may not make sense, but trust me, our perception of time, rest, and what it looks or how to go about it is contrary to how God sees and set it up.
The thing is He created each of us unique and different so this, for lack of a better word, process takes time by being intentional, patient, and mainly allowing God to show you what it looks like for you specifically. Just because one person may connect and abide with God in a coffee shop or in the mountains doesn’t mean that’s the main way for everyone. I’m still trying to figure out what this looks like for me and yes it’s frustrating sometimes, but I guess my perspective still isn’t where He wants it to be. That’s okay though because I know that as I continue to learn how to be loved by the Lover I become that much closer to Him and I wouldn’t have this opportunity and connection to the Father if it wasn’t for Jesus.
See, Jesus literally died and came back to life which re-established this broken connection between the Creator and His creation to have complete and total access to the holy of holies anytime, anywhere. The most profound, yet hard to fathom thing is that it requires zero effort for us to obtain it. There is no striving only abiding. Our salvation and eternal promise is solidified and sealed by Jesus and what He did.
So, we can once again have this beautiful, intimate, and personal relationship with our Father who longs for us to know Him in such a deep way that we sometimes miss it by focusing too much on doing things for Him instead of just being there with Him.
There were multiple ways God communicated his heart and purpose to us. One way was with Mary and Martha. When Jesus was in their home, both sisters loved Him, but served and worshiped Him differently. Martha strove and served with works while getting frustrated at her sister, Mary, for “doing nothing” but sitting at Jesus’ feet. Jesus plainly stated that one had the proper posture over the other.
(Luke 10:38-42)
The most evident example we see of God’s plan for us, His prized creation, is at the very beginning. Man was made on the sixth day of creation and yet his first day of life was resting on the seventh day with God. Before Adam and Eve disobeyed God, God’s true purpose and intention for us was plain as day. He simply desired and delighted in being with us! God literally walked with Adam and Eve in the garden. They were at their most vulnerable state that they could be in. They were literally naked before God and yet had no care or realization of it because at that moment they had all they needed. They had complete and total access to God and He was overjoyed with being with them.
(Genesis 1:26-31; 2:1-24)
That’s our purpose. To simply abide, rest, and have this beautiful father son/daughter time with our awesome loving Dad. There is absolutely nothing in this world, or in our entire existence, that can make God love us anymore or any less and there is nothing we can do with our own strength, or ability to gain access to heaven and the Father except through Jesus who made a way for us. He’s the ultimate, absolute mediator between God and man so we can once again have what we lost in the garden. A sweet bare naked relationship with our Father who loves us beyond comprehension who simply wants to hold our hand and walk with us. That’s it.
Life as a follower of Jesus isn’t about striving, even though we do have actual work to do, no, it’s mainly about resting in Him who has already done everything for us while walking out our day to day lives relying, trusting and putting our faith in that promise and truth. Why else did God make the Sabbath day a commandment if it wasn’t something He viewed as important?
(Ephesians 1:1-23)
(Exodus 20:8-11)
There’s nothing more important than your personal devotion with Dad other than sharing and inviting others into this sweet devotion as well because when were not sharing His story to others we’re withholding them from the intimate time God wants to have with them by lavishing His love over them and bringing them back to where they belong. Which is in His arms.
God is our Lord and Most High King as well as our intimate Lover and Groom. So, get in there and receive what our Lover has for you in the secret place as you simply stop, rest, and abide in Him.
Receive His love. It’s worth it. You’re worth it. Shalom.
