Enter God’s Rest

“They were not able to enter [into His rest] because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out].”—Hebrews 3:19 AMPC

Why is rest so important? A life filled with rest is freed from fear and worry, without stress or anxiety. It is a life in which we trust God completely; we know and believe His Word and stand on His promises. This is a lifestyle that leads to health, enables us to think more clearly, and helps us live in more productive ways.

In many ways, the world can make it difficult to experience God’s rest. We can feel the stress of world problems and economic uncertainties. We can be driven by worries and fears. We can feel the dissatisfaction fostered by commercialism and find it hard to be content.

To enter God’s rest, we must lay aside these pressures and completely trust Him. We must be willing “to adhere to and trust in and rely on God.” We must make sure that unbelief does not shut us out. We must put faith into action. We can’t allow ourselves to be dominated by anxiety, but constantly let God know about our needs (Philippians 4:6–7).

Ask God to help you lay aside the pressures and worries of the world. Spend time committing everything to Him. Confess the promises in His Word. Pray about anything that troubles you. Ask Him to help you simply believe Him, trust Him completely, and be at peace, always knowing that He is with you.

Reflection Question: How are you going to build rest into your schedule this week?