There’s not one believer I know who is without a struggle right now. Some are dealing with exhaustion, weariness, depression, anxiety or addiction. While others are enduring heartache, grief, sickness, loneliness or lack.
It has not been an easy season. We are longing for relief. We are longing for rest. There is much change on the horizon as we enter the new Kingdom Age Era. Yet, the only true rest comes not from our earthly lot, but from Jesus only.
Beloved, in the midst of being overwhelmed or at the end of your rope, He is wooing you to come to Him as you are so you can find ease for your soul and experience His life source flowing through you again.
“Come unto Me, all ye that are weary and laden, and I will ease (rest) you.” Matthew 11:28 GNV
In the Old Testament, the Promised Land was a real region. But for us, it’s a foreshadow of our reality in Christ. The Israelites were led out of Egypt (a picture of leaving spiritual death by the blood of Jesus at the cross) and eventually led into the Promised Land (a picture of our new identity and resurrected life)!
More than 20 times, the Lord promised the Israelites a land flowing with milk and honey. Why milk and honey? Why not golden wheat and springs of water (although they are included in the promise)?
Milk and honey were a beautiful fortaste of His grace; effortless supply and undeserved satisfaction.
Milk was not manufactured by man. Milk is a living food that comes from an animal that has been created and well fed. In order for that animal to produce milk, there had to be fertility. For milk to flow, several things had to already exist: green pastures, rain from heaven and healthy flocks. Proof that life was flourishing.
Honey was not harvested from a season of cultivating. Honey was produced by bees. Again, a source from God not man. It was just there for the taking. Honey represents the pleasures of heaven, the enjoyment of intimacy with God and the sweetness of His Word (Psalm 119:103 Ezekiel 3:3).
So the destination was never about a place of perfection. It was the promise of His presence! In other words, a land flowing with milk and honey meant that Perfect Love Himself would be peace and prosperity for His people. A stark contrast to His people performing to produce for Him.
Unfortunately, many of the Israelites rejected the Lord’s goodness because, to them, the giants in the land – their enemies – were bigger than their God. The cause of this unbelief? Under the old covenant, the enjoyment of that abundance was subject to Israel’s obedience; an unstable life lived under the law. The demand led to doubt.
But in the new covenant of grace, the promise of His fullness is solely dependent upon Jesus’s obedience to the Father at the cross and experienced by faith! What a relief! It’s not about what you do. It’s about what He has done!
Yes, the Israelites did have seasons of reprieve with plenty of physical resources, but the Word tells us they never had the ultimate promise of The Rest!
“For you have not yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the Lord your God gives you.” Deuteronomy 12:9
Because they were under law, they were always striving “to do” rather than resting to receive. They hardened their hearts by trying in their own effort instead of trusting in God’s complete care for them (Psalm 95:7-11). Ultimately, they wandered around the land of “self” instead of being in awe of the One who relentlessly supplied.
But Hebrews chapter four reassures us that the real promise of living freely and lightly in His unmerited favor is still for us TODAY. It’s for you NOW, regardless of your current situation! The only thing your Father wants you to “strive for” is to enter into the realm of “be still and know.”
“Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves]…” Hebrews 4:11 AMPC
Having Jesus as your rest means having true heart peace in the midst of your problems. It’s having calm confidence in the midst of uncertain circumstances, and serenity of mind in the midst of the storm. It’s letting go completely and allowing Him to be God so you can breathe again, hear His voice, delight in the simple things, and be led by His Spirit.
“But how do I get there?” you ask. You’ve got to go back to the crux of the good news: unshakable peace comes from believing you have been forgiven, acquitted and justified by God (Romans 5:1).
It is the certainty that your lifetime of sin was washed away and you were made holy and blameless in His sight. It’s being reminded that you are righteous (in right standing with God) and whole; loved with an unchanging love, regardless of your ever-changing behavior, actions and circumstances.
You don’t have to try and muster up what you think is strong faith. Simply see your Father’s heart to freely give to you and watch His faithfulness unfold. Release your grip on anything you’re attempting to control, and witness His Lordship do what you never could. Cease from struggling to fight your own battles, and you will see your Savior show Himself strong.
When you return to relying on the Lord alone, residing in quiet assurance on the inside, He will manifest mighty things on the outside. You weren’t meant to live in constant chaos, distraction or restlessness. Let not your heart be troubled any longer. You have a blood-bought inheritance of living in a state of internal and eternal safety and security with the Lover of your soul.
“For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 AMPC
When you are at rest, the enemy can’t touch you. King Solomon said, “now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary or disaster confronting me” (1 Kings 5:4 AMPC).
Child of God, your allotment is to simply abide, where all your fruit and flow is found in Him. All you need is found in Him.
“From now on I’m the one who answers and satisfies him. I AM like a luxuriant fruit tree. Everything you need is to be found in Me.” Hosea 14:8 MSG
Resting In His Love,
Annalee Reyes
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Jesus has been pursuing you relentlessly all your life. If you’ve never received Jesus Christ as your forgiveness, your Lord and your Savior, you can pray this simple prayer from your heart and become born again, a brand new creation and child of Daddy God, your loving Father:
“Heavenly Father, Thank You for sending your Son for me. I believe He came to earth to be born in the flesh to die my death on the cross. I believe His blood washed my sins away and completely cleansed me. I believe He redeemed me from every curse by becoming my curse and was raised from the dead because I was declared justified and righteous. Jesus, come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. I am now fully forgiven! I am a child of God, blessed, favored and incomprehensibly loved. In Jesus Name. Amen!”