The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.
(Deuteronomy 33:27)
I have been feeling more tired than usual recently. In part, this is likely due to the significant transition the Lord has led me from a career engineer to a career missionary over the past 2-1/2 years. It has been a joy helping establish the ministry of Journey in Christ through full days every day.
In addition, this year has been the most emotional year of my life for many reasons. One reason is the aching of my heart to witness my wife endure after many sleepless nights this summer due to an aggravation of her restless leg syndrome. This has been debilitating for her.
I have also started jogging a few miles before the sun rises, which actually invigorates me as long as I get to bed early. I love starting the day experiencing the presence of the Lord in the quiet outside. It's like He's sharing His whole world just with me for a few minutes while He promises me a sunrise every day.
And, hey, I am getting older!
And there is always the temptation to get tired by striving through my sinful fleshly efforts to get things done instead of resting in Christ living in and through me.
I hope the following brief biblical descriptions of rest will truly be a Rest Stop for you.
CHRIST'S REST IN YOU
Two amazing verses reveal that true rest is Jesus' rest that He offers to share with you and with me.
Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
Jesus did not say that He would show you how to rest, but that He would give you rest.
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His (God's) rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it (Hebrews 4:11).
Jesus said "It is finished" and bowed His head on the cross. He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. He is resting in His victory over Satan, sin, and death for you.
His rest is aglow with resurrection glory! And through the Holy Spirit, He has given you His victorious rest! You no longer have to strive for victory, which is so tiresome. You can now grow by faith in living from victory...from His victorious life indwelling you!
YOUR REST IN CHRIST
You no longer have to strive to become
something of value. Oh how tiresome that striving can be. Jesus has made
you completely valuable in Him! Colossians 2:10 says, You are complete in Him.
You no longer have to strive to climb the ladder of success! You can grow in resting in the truth that God has already lifted you up!
God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us...raised us up together, and made us sit (rest) together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).
CLOSING
During Jesus' 33 years on earth, He lived as a Man, although He was still fully God. He lived as a Man totally dependent on the Holy Spirit. And He lived a Man who got tired frequently. Yet He rested in His Father.
This is now our heritage. We, too, through the Holy Spirit can rest in the Father's everlasting arms, trusting Him to carry us through each day and night, and to manifest the life of Jesus Christ through us to others!
The Miracle of Rest 
