“ No matter how skeptical we are , we can all agree : Jesus
Christ did not die on the cross for us to live a life of punitive exhaustion . ”
So , this one is for the skeptics , the cautious , and the informed decision makers .
You and I both know you ’ re tired .
We both agree that it will get worse if it doesn ’ t get better . But what about all the reasons why you ’ re not resting now ? What if I don ’ t understand your specific life demands , concerns , fears , and hang-ups with living a more rested life ?
No matter how skeptical we are , we can all agree : Jesus Christ did not die on the cross for us to live a life of punitive exhaustion . And if we ’ re tired of being tired , imagine how much our gracious and merciful Father wants to see us break free from the fatigue cycles that keep us bound .
Let ’ s dive in together . Here are five lies that you might believe about rest , and the truths that I believe just might set us free .
Lie # 1 : “ I can ’ t rest until the work is done .”
We ’ re convinced that the laundry has to be done , every text has to be answered , every kid nurtured , and every important email responded to . Before we rest , we need to have a grip on the next week , we need to plan the next thing , and we need to finish the dishes .
And this is where I ’ m incredibly grateful for the very first vision of rest as cast in Genesis .
Just after God creates day and night , literal light and darkness , He does something interesting . Right here , in the foundation of everything , He switches the order on us : He shifts from the day-night pattern to night and then day .
But Father God ’ s switch-up right here is actually life-changing for those of us who feel we need to earn our rest . When our intentional and creative God speaks day and night into being , the original sequence is day and then night . But then it ’ s like He pulls out the Uno Reverse card and suddenly begins referring to the two as evening and then morning . Rest comes first . And then work .
“ No matter how skeptical we are , we can all agree : Jesus
Christ did not die on the cross for us to live a life of punitive exhaustion . ”
In God ’ s structuring of the created order of everything , He intentionally sequenced rest to come first before any kind of waking activity . We break ties with the lie that we have to rest after our work is completed , and we receive the truth that we won ’ t really be able to work well until we take the rest .
Lie # 2 : “ Rest will be boring .”
If you hate rest , you ’ re going to hate heaven .
Stick with me ; I actually don ’ t think you hate
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