Daily rest (not to be confused with sleep) reduces stress and anxiety, improves mood, decreases blood pressure, helps relieve chronic pain, improves immune health, and strengthens the cardiovascular system.1 Entering God’s rest benefits us now and forever.
God’s Rest Is a Present State of Living in the Fullness of His Blessings
God created the heavens and the earth in six days and rested from His work on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). That rest continues, characterized by peace, joy, freedom, abundant life, and contentment with His finished work.
Belief in God’s Provision for Our Sins Opens the Door to God’s Rest
Genuine belief in Jesus’ finished work on the cross on our behalf to make us right with God always results in obedience, hearing, and acting on God’s voice (Hebrews 3:16). Such belief opens the door and enters the realm of God’s rest. Today is the time to enter it (Hebrews 4:7). Tomorrow, we must enter it again.
One value of Christian fellowship is warning one another about the dangers of a slow leak of faith. A gradual hardening of our hearts and a turning away from God forfeit the superabundant benefits of dwelling in His rest. We ought to tremble in fear at the very possibility of it (Hebrews 4:1). Believing in Jesus requires constant maintenance because it must persist as long as we live (Hebrews 3:14).
Believers Can Experience God’s Rest Now but Not Yet in Its Fullness
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29 NLT). Jesus promised those who come to Him rest for their souls.
He delivers all of us who come to Him from the crushingly impossible burden of trying to please God through our good works. We experience God’s rest when we trust His finished work on the cross to make us right with Him.
God’s rest is the realm of His fulfilled promises. It includes perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3), enduring love (1 Chronicles 16:34), faithfulness (Psalm 100:5), every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), refreshment and wisdom (Psalm 19:7), direction (Psalm 32:8), refuge in the Lord (Psalm 34:8), God’s care (Nahum 1:7), favor and honor (Psalm 84:11), strength and power (Isaiah 40:29, Ephesians 3:20–21), God’s presence (Isaiah 41:10), plans for good (Jeremiah 29:11), earthly provisions (Matthew 6:33), rest (Psalm 91:3, Matthew 11:28–29), straight paths (Proverbs 3:5–6), abounding good works ( 2 Corinthians 9:8), sufficient grace (2 Corinthians 12:9–10), every good thing (Psalm 34:10), eternal life (John 5:24), rest for the persecuted (2 Thessalonians 1:7), the light of life (John 8:12), freedom for captives and release from darkness (Isaiah 61:1), a forever advocate to help (John 14:15–16), life to the full (John 10:10), healing (1 Peter 2:24), all things working for the good (Romans 8:28), fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3), fellowship with others in God’s rest (1 John 1:7), answered prayers (Mark 11:24), all needs met (Philippians 4:19), God’s comfort (Psalm 23:4), God’s praises in my mouth (Psalm 34:1), deliverance in the day of trouble (Psalm 50:15), forgiveness of our sins (Psalm 86:5), being right with God (Romans 10:10), our name in the Book of Life (Revelation 3:5).
The Fullness of God’s Rest Is Still to Come
“So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9 NLT). We enter that rest through persevering, obedient belief (Hebrews 4:11). “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). The partial rest we experience now through obedient belief will become complete forever. See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians. #discipleshipresources #evangelismresources #christianleadershipresources
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