Do We Have to Die to Find Rest?

’Rest in peace’ placards dot roadsides where fatal accidents have occurred. Tombstones inscribed with those same words mark final resting places. Is rest only found in death? Can we rest in peace in the land of the living? 

Two months ago, I flew to California to visit my daughter, son-in-law, and their newborn, my grandson. Plans to stay a little while extended to five weeks. During that length of time, I observed my grandson’s growth. As his little body developed, he began to suffer from intestinal problems. 

Through no fault of his own, the poor baby squirmed, pushed, kicked, and cried. His discomfort displayed itself through restlessness. Eventually gas build-up in his body expelled itself in several ways. When released, he settled down to rest. And when he rested, his mother, father, and I enjoyed a quiet interval.

Watching my grandson’s restless kicking and crying conjured up images of an agitated society. I didn’t need to use much imagination as violent visions of chaos were splattered all over social media. The social distancing way of life due to the Covid virus had already instilled fear in folks. Worry had begun to plague the minds of persons separated from their nearest and dearest.

Like a virus, discontent has now spread through all walks of life. For months, alarm and anxiety has hovered over earth’s population. Between the unease of encountering a disease to the unrest of rebellion in city streets, humanity wreaks of weariness.

“I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, only turmoil.” 
Job 3:26

In some form or fashion, these words have most likely been proclaimed all over the world during the past several months. They were actually spoken by a Hebrew patriarch named Job to his three friends who tried to comfort him after disaster struck his household.

Scripture describes Job as the greatest man to live in a land located east of the Jordan River called Uz. He owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a large number of servants. He had seven sons and three daughters. In one day, he lost it all, including his health. How did he survive such devastation? 

He suffered in stages, one day at a time. He reported his hardship as a continual churning inside his body, causing him daily to wake in agony. Most of us experiencing loss of any kind could understand his torment. And like anyone attempting to find answers, he eventually blamed both God and man. He wrestled with his past life, a life full of God’s blessings in which he had shared with others. He asserted his goodness. He detailed his thoughts through discourse after discourse of his former happiness, his loss of everything, and his innocence. Until God spoke.

“Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.”   Job 38:3

The wise and all-powerful Creator God asked Job where he was when the earth’s foundation was laid. He questioned Job about the workings of the entire universe. He interrogated him over the behaviors of animals and birds. God’s cross-examination broadened Job’s mind to everything in existence upon the earth. He lead Job to be conscious of more than his own life. Then the Lord said, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”   Job 40:1-2

Imagine the humility Job must have felt. He immediately expressed his unworthiness before God saying, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”   Job 40:4-5

Have we spewed too many complaints lately in the midst of a pandemic and massive violence? Are we continually asking God why? Do we talk more than listen? Maybe we need to sit still in quietness before an Almighty God. Possibly we need to ingest some humble pie. 

God is God and we are not. Who are we to assume His role in our lives or to even extract Him from our lives? Why do we blame Him for life’s adversities? Could it be He is ready to say to us, “Brace yourself like a woman, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.”

Maybe God has given us over to the worldly things we desire. Possibly He wants us to be distressed enough to turn back to Him. He has plans to prosper us, not harm us, if we seek Him with our whole heart.* He desires for us to learn from Him and experience His rest when burdens plague us.* Will we listen to Him and obey His words? Or will we continue our self-absorption? 

Job met the One True God and humbly repented of his unworthiness. He gained spiritual understanding and a deeper faith as he walked a road of suffering. In due course his restless angst found peaceful rest in a God who loved him. 

Over the last several months, restlessness has settled in around us. We’re fatigued from the world’s troubles. Have we turned away from God or run to God? Are we listening for His answers or doing all the talking?

Be still and get to know God.* Listen to Him and learn of His wisdom. When you trust Him with your burdens and concerns, He will give you peace. No matter your circumstances, you will find rest for your souls. 

*For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

*“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

*He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. 

Philippians 4:8-9 (NIV)

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. 
Jeremiah 31:25 ”

When Clouds Gather, Look to Your Rescuer

Now when the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David went down and his servants with him; and as they fought against the Philistines, David became weary.  2 Samuel 21:15 (NASB)

David? Weary? Hard to believe that a wealthy and powerful king could become weary, but it happened. The Philistines were at war with Israel AGAIN, and David grew weary. Their taunts had plagued Israel for as long as he could remember. The death of the giant by young David’s sling and stone only frightened the Philistines temporarily. Once he became king, the Philistines threatened and tormented David again and again.

Are you experiencing exhaustion from a constant battle? Maybe you’re not at war with physical giants, but conflicts meet you at every turn. Disputes and quarrels erode stamina. Arduous, laborious, burdensome—a body is drained when facing mental and physical strife. 

Both angst and fatigue plagued me when my daughter lived according to her own desires instead of heeding our warnings about life choices. Thick tension would fill the air whenever we met face to face, usually ending in an explosive wrangle. When away from each other, intense disagreements would occur over the phone. I grew weary. 

PLEASE LORD, WON’T YOU HELP ME? CAN’T YOU MAKE THIS STRESS GO AWAY? TAKE AWAY THESE CLOUDS OF GLOOM AND DOOM. GOD, PLEASE BRING PEACE TO OUR FAMILY SITUATION NOW! 

I typically didn’t wait for God to work. No time to waste. I needed to fix the situation immediately. So I would reach out to her with well-intentioned words of advice. Surely I could transform her into my ideal daughter. My guidance only morphed into confrontation, creating more misery. 

GOD, I’VE BEEN PRAYING. MY FRIENDS ARE PRAYING. WHY AREN’T YOU ANSWERING? FIX HER. REPAIR OUR RELATIONSHIP. 

One day God answered me through a friend. “You need to cut the cord and quit trying to fix the situation,” she said. “Let go and let God work in her life and yours.” 

Was she talking to me? I wasn’t the one with the problem. Or so I thought until I remembered God’s words from Psalm 46:10—Be still and know that I am God. He was God and I was not. I had a lesson to learn. Maybe I could learn from David’s example. 

David inquired of the Lord. That’s right. David took time to stop and ask God what to do. He recognized God’s power. He understood God’s might. He knew the importance of listening and obeying God’s commands. But he didn’t always wait. He learned the way most of us do—the hard way. 

Many times he acted without conferring with God (like when he lusted after a married woman, impregnated her, and had her husband killed). Whoa. Who does that? How can that be forgiven? 

Yes, King David committed those heinous acts (2 Samuel 11). But when confronted by a man of God, shame filled David’s soul. Remorse brought him to his knees and he repented before God. Then David’s Deliverer rescued him with loving forgiveness. Because he continually yielded to God, God called him “a man after His own heart.”

I wanted to be a woman after God’s own heart. I desired to listen and obey God’s counsel. Humbly in silence, I began to open my ears and heart to God. When I finally removed my will and allowed God’s will in our lives, things slowly began to change. Weariness transformed into gratitude. God strengthened me.

He also strengthened David. This weary, sinful man with a pliable heart peered through the clouds of conflicts in his life and recognized his faithful Lord. Forgiven and strengthened, he penned many expressions of thanksgiving to His mighty Rescuer. He declared his deliverance by God’s hand from all his enemies. His soul delighted with songs of gratitude to his Savior. 

In his weariness, David called out to God and God heard him:

““In my distress I called upon the Lord,
Yes, I cried to my God;
And from His temple He heard my voice,
And my cry for help came into His ears. “
2 Samuel 22:7”

David declared who his Deliverer was:

““He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.
“They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.”
2 Samuel 22:18-19”

The Lord strengthened him and lit his way:

““For You are my lamp, O Lord;
And the Lord illumines my darkness.
“For by You I can run upon a troop;
By my God I can leap over a wall.”
2 Samuel 22:29-30”

At times gray clouds seem to reign over our lives. Dismal days forecast gloomy outlooks. As hope fades, weariness increases. What do you do? What did David do?

David cried out to God in the midst of trouble. God heard his cry and delivered him from his enemies. David offered songs of thanksgiving to his Lord and Savior. And David’s strength was renewed.

Are you weary from continuous clouds of conflict? Take time to be still and ask God what to do. Allow David’s heart penned in Psalm 18 to penetrate your soul. Recognize your Rescuer. Give Him praise. And He will renew your strength. 

Lord, how I love you! For you have done such tremendous things for me.

The Lord is my fort where I can enter and be safe; no one can follow me in and slay me. He is a rugged mountain where I hide; he is my Savior, a rock where none can reach me, and a tower of safety. He is my shield. He is like the strong horn of a mighty fighting bull. All I need to do is cry to him—oh, praise the Lord—and I am saved from all my enemies!  Psalm 18:1-3 (TLB)