Rest. So hard to do sometimes isn’t it? Sometimes resting takes great intention to just do it! Stop. Breathe. Rest. The past year pretty much forced us all to stop in our tracks. But did we really rest? I am guilty of resting but “not really resting”. Was I really stopping to listen to what God was saying? Was I breathing in His presence and exhaling the worries I was carrying? Was I letting the noise distract me and pull me off track and out of that place of true rest? It made me ask the question, if I was feeling so compelled to do so much that I was physically worn out, was I being driven instead of being led?
This past year has truly shown me the value of rest. That rest is a weapon. A powerful weapon. It is so easy to fall into questioning and worry when we are tired. The enemy loves us to fall into that weariness and question God’s goodness and even question how loved we truly are and take on all of the worries that go with all the questions.
Rest is like a sword in our hands against those questions and worries. It never allows the opposition to dictate how we think or feel. It brings negativity to a stand still. It has the best jab ever and has the confidence and the assurance to say “No, you are not coming in.” when the enemy comes knocking. When we enter into the rest of God, we are at peace within His shadow. The Bible even serves to remind us in 1 Kings 5:4 that God will give rest to us on every side and thatthere will be no adversary or disaster that will be able to penetrate His great love. He goes before us in every situation to make the crooked paths straight.
Resting in who God says I am, resting in who I know Him to be….these are my weapons. The enemy can only wreak havoc, and rob us of our peace if we choose to leave the sanctuary of God’s presence. King David describes God in many of the psalms as the High tower, his hiding place, his refuge, his stronghold, his shield. That is where I want to rest.
In the end it’s really about our response. How will we respond when trials come our way. A tough diagnosis, a betrayal, 
an empty bank account, loss of employment, a wayward child or broken relationship. Will we surrender our peace and rest to the lies of the enemy or will we hide ourselves in the high tower of God’s presence and rest in the truth that God is always good and we are forever loved. Will we be tossed by emotions and circumstances or will rest be our weapon as we choose to stand strong and steady on the truth?
an empty bank account, loss of employment, a wayward child or broken relationship. Will we surrender our peace and rest to the lies of the enemy or will we hide ourselves in the high tower of God’s presence and rest in the truth that God is always good and we are forever loved. Will we be tossed by emotions and circumstances or will rest be our weapon as we choose to stand strong and steady on the truth? Rest……it’s a powerful thing. Psalms 46:10