I was recently asked to speak to a Men’s Forum at my local Church. Being my first time giving a Church based talk, you can imagine my consternation. I said yes, not knowing what I would talk about, but trusting that God would give me a topic and the words to back it up.

A few days later, I was watching a sermon, a random sermon that showed up on my Youtube feed for that matter. The preacher was speaking about the power of silence, and how the human race is losing it’s ability to be silent due to constant stimulation, and how this is reducing our ability to live in God’s presence. As I watched the video, God spoke, and I knew exactly what to talk about.

My talk came from the book of Psalms 37:7, which says, “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass”.

As I was researching and reflecting on this verse, I came upon this quote by Charles Spurgeon, “Rest in the Lord is a most divine precept and requires much grace to carry it out. To hush the spirit, to be silent before the Lord, to wait in holy patience the time for clearing up the difficulties of providence – this is what every gracious heart should aim at”.

It always amazes me that before man was kicked out of the garden of Eden, the bible conjectures that God would take walks in the garden in the cool of day (Genesis 3). I can just imagine him hanging out with Adam & Eve, opening their eyes to the wonders of creation, and how amazing that must have been. Unfortunately on one particular occasion, when Adam & Eve heard the voice of God walking in the garden, they didn’t go up to him to as they were prone to. This time they hid. Sin had made them aware of their nakedness, and in the shame of it, they couldn’t commune with their Creator anymore. That part of the story always breaks my heart.

This story unfolds everyday in our lives though doesn’t it? When we choose to listen to other voices instead of waiting on God. When those voices lead us down the path of sin. And in that state of sin, communion with God becomes impossible, because we hide in shame. And we spend our lives masking this shame with short term solutions, like burying ourselves in work, indulging in the praises and admiration of men, abusing substances, embracing ‘new age’ tactics like burning sage & yoga which only provide temporary reprieve.

In his infinite mercy, Christ gave a blanket call in Mathew 11:28 saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. We do not have to repeat Adam’s mistake. Yes, we have all fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but thanks to the redemption power of the risen Christ, and the sanctifying power of the Holy spirit, we get to pick ourselves up and run back to him for that Peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

I shared with the Men these 5 things that God wants to provide us rest from, and I encourage you to spend a day on each of them, reflecting on how you can do things differently in your life in that area as guided by the referenced scriptures. While this was a Men’s talk, I believe these precepts work for Women too so ladies, please feel welcome.

Day 1: Rest from Ambition
Psalms 127:1-2 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves”. Elsewhere in Mathew 6:32, Christ extols his disciples to not run after the same things that Pagans run to, because “your heavenly Father knows that you need them”. He asks them not to worry about tomorrow, but to pay more attention to matters of God’s Kingdom and his righteousness, promising that all these things will be given to us as well.

This is such a tough ask in a fast paced world where success is measured through achievement and acquisition. The ambitious ones are exalted and celebrated, leading to a persistent feedback loop that has permeated our society, especially the business world and corporate spaces. We work longer hours, sacrifice time with loved ones, ignore our health (physical and mental), in pursuit of the very thing God says is already ours. He says if only we patiently wait on him, he will order our steps and bring us delight (Psalms 37:23). I tell you this from personal experience, that God is the best career coach, mentor, strategist, investor you will ever find.

Today’s Action: Take that ambitious goal, the one that keeps you up at night, and bring it to God in prayer. Ask him to illuminate it, and show you if it is aligned to his will for your life. Patiently wait on him, and whatever he says, obey him. You may not get that promotion this year, you may not hit your Annual targets, close that deal or that round of investment, but rest assured that in his own time (and his timing is always perfect), he he shall bring it to pass (Psalms 37: 5)

Day 2: Rest from worldly identities & attributes
I call your attention to Jeremiah 1:5, where Yahweh, speaking to Jeremiah who doubted his calling to be a prophet says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations”. In Mathew 3:17, we see God the Father affirming Jesus Christ’s identity before he begins his ministry, saying “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”. I submit to you that like Jeremiah, your life’s calling and mine were stamped on us long before we came into this earth. I submit to you that like Christ, God has claimed us for himself as his beloved Children without merit. In Isaiah 43:1, he tells the Israelites, “…Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine”. To God, we are enough as we are, period.

We live in a world where identity has become so important that we keep manufacturing new ones just so we can feel a sense of purpose & belonging. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) is such a big topic now, as organizations strive to demonstrate that they recognize all and sundry in their stakeholder manifestos. I dare say that if we viewed everyone as a Child of God, there would be no need for well packaged DE&I strategies.

Men in particular are haunted by the need to have attributes and titles giving their lives more worth. We want to be referred to as Doctor, Engineer, Professor, Pastor, Honorable, Ambassador so and so, and some make quite the racket if someone dares to forget their hard earned title. We take pride in the acronyms accompanying our names, be it Msc, LLM, PHD, EGH etc.

Young people want their personalities to be defined by mythical Zodiac signs, some going as far as making life decisions based on whether they are a Gemini, Cancer etc. Some people are no longer satisfied with being male/female, and have manufactured myriads of identities in between. What I find incredible is when progressive Governments change policies to accommodate these perverted identities.

I heard the voice of God saying that the devil is using these worldly identities & attributes to keep his Children confused and dissatisfied, complicating their lives by trying to live up to the expectations that come with these titles, being burdened by them and in the process, losing the rest that comes with our God given identity i.e. beloved Children of God.

Christ was given many titles during his ministry; Teacher, Prophet, Messiah, King you name it. Yet, whenever Christ would find himself tired, or frustrated, or scared as he was in the Garden of Gethsemane, that identity in Mathew 3:17 anchored him, always calling on to his Father and making his requests known like a Child would.

Today’s Action: Reclaim your God given identity and shed the weight of the worldly attributes you pursue or have accumulated. Do not lay your treasures in them because eventually they all come to pass. In the silence of your home, go to your Father as his beloved Child, cry to him, speak to him, and make your requests known. As a good father, he does not give stones to his children when they ask for food (Matthew 7:9-11).

Day 3: Rest from Fear & Worry
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul, so says the Psalmist in Psalm 23.

I heard someone say that we are living a Mental health pandemic, we just haven’t branded it so. If you are not struggling with anxiety and depression, then highly likely you know someone who is, especially since the COVID-19 Pandemic.

For far too long, the concept of self-help has been preached to us, promising us more control over our lives and our destinies. This USD 50 Billion global industry has convinced Man that he is the centre of his world (it’s right there in the name self help), that within him is the power to make his dreams come true. Where does that leave our Creator? The one who made us in his image and knows exactly what we need to live fruitful and joyful lives? In John 15:7, christ told his disciples, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you”. St. Paul says in Romans 8:6, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace”. To rest in God is to die to self, so we can live in him.

Here’s the heart of the matter. Our human capacity is limited in dealing with all the troubles that this world comes with. In the midst of our quest for control over our finances, marriages, happiness, children, work, purpose, business you name it, when the inevitable waves of life sweep against us like the raging waves in Mathew 8, that’s when Fear & Worry comes into the fray. And friends, if Christ is not peacefully resting in your boat as was the case with the disciples, then who do you call to save you?

Friend, self-help is a lie of the enemy, a stronghold created to keep us weak and vulnerable, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

Today’s Action: Read and meditate on Phillipians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. Memorize these words and speak them by faith over any situation that causes you to worry or be fearful, because God is not a man that he should lie (Numbers 23:19)

Day 4: Rest from Stimulation

I am naturally a seeker of excitement and stimulation. I get bored easily, not able to last through one activity for long, which can keep me in a constant activity loop. In my pursuit of rest, this has been the biggest area of deliverance.

Work hard, play hard, has been touted in many circles as the high achiever’s mantra. But in reality this often translates to Work hard, Sin hard. The world presents a myriad of escapes for the hard working man with means. Illicit Sex, substances abuse, partying, excessive media consumption all come together in service of relaxation, because the enemy lies to us that we have earned it.

I have come to learn that when you walk in the presence of God, rest is part of the package. In Exodus 33:14, one of the most hard working men I know, Moses, tasked with leading a million Israelites across the desert, cried to God not to leave him, and God said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest”. God kept his promise, and by day he was there as a pillar of Cloud, and by night a pillar of fire.

When we hand over our responsibilities, our work, our study, even our relaxation to God, he takes it, sanctifies it, and in it’s place he teaches us how to carry these burdens like he would. He teaches us how to carry these yokes with humility and gentleness (Mathew 11:29). The net effect is that no matter if you are a CEO of a multi-billion listed company, or a fast rising professional, or a father of 7, in Christ you will miraculously find rest for your Soul. Because he who carried the weight of the whole world’s sinfulness on his shoulders, and suffered death on the Cross for it is happy to share that load with you.

Today’s Action: As guided by 1 Corinthians 10:31 which says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God”, always ask yourself, how does the activity I’m currently indulging in give glory to God? Instead of seeking stimulation from the World so you can feel alive, seek Christ, because while the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy, Christ came that we may have life, and have it in abundance John 10:10.

Day 5: Rest from the Crowds
We are social beings, constantly surrounded by people, be it our families, friends, colleagues, church brethren you name it. If the Love of Christ fills your heart, these people will always be welcome, because for you every encounter is an opportunity to minister to them about the goodness of God.

In Mark 6:31, we see Christ do something interesting, “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”. He takes his disciples away from the flock, so they can get some R&R.

What a practical instruction for those of us involved in shepherding families, social circles and ministries. You will hear people jokingly tease brethren who spend too much time in Church activities, thereby neglecting their responsibilities in the ‘real world’. Or Men & Women whose social calendars are so full, that their weekends are even busier than their weekdays.

I hear the Lord saying to us as well, Come with me by yourselves…because you cannot give what you do not have. That quite time in prayer or silent worship, that extended time of personal Bible study, or simply that time of personal reflection, be it journaling, taking a walk, going to the gym, soaking in a healthy hobby, you name it…that is you taking time to drink of the water that Christ offered the Samaritan woman in John 4:14. And if you do this, he promises that what he gives us in these moments will become in us a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

Today’s Action: Reflect on how you spend your time. How much of it is spent with the ‘crowds’ and how much of it is spent in quiet time with your master? He who recognized the importance of taking time away from the crowds will light your path and show you how to balance pouring into others and pouring back into yourself. He wants you to stay refreshed, so allow him the time to replenish your fountain.

In conclusion, please be blessed by these guiding principles as you reflect on resting on God:

  • Rest in God is an act of Faith – Psalm 62:5
  • Rest in God builds our resilience – Isaiah 40:31
  • Rest in God is an act of Obedience – Exodus 16:23
  • Rest in God unlocks divine Providence – Psalms 91:1
  • Rest in God is part of Worship – Genesis 2:3
  • Rest in God is impossible without his Presence in our Lives – John 14:23