 The Hidden Joy In our fast paced world, we are trained to avoid discomfort at all costs. We view "blessings" as synonymous with ease, prosperity, and a life free of friction. But the gospel offers a different perspective: (sometimes) the greatest sign that you are exactly where you are supposed to be is the presence of opposition. 1 Peter 4:12-13 reminds us: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ." The Validation of the Struggle It feels contradictory to say that suffering is a blessing. However, when we face trials because of our faith or our commitment to the Lord, it serves as a validation. Light naturally disrupts the darkness. If we are moving in the same direction as the world, you won't feel any wind resistance; it is only when you turn and walk against the current that you feel the pressure. Suffering for the Lord is often the "spiritual friction" that confirms you are no longer part of the world. It means your life is distinct enough to be noticed and your light is bright enough to be felt. That you are a threat to the darkness. Shifting from Endurance to Rejoicing The call for the weary believer isn't just to "tough it out" through the pain. We are invited to something much more: rejoicing. James 1:2-4 tells us:"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." When we rejoice it builds character. Trials act as a test, stripping away the unknown sin and leaving behind a faith that is proven and pure. Rejoicing creates intimacy with the Lord. There is a closeness that is only found in the "fellowship of His sufferings." When the world pulls away, He draws nearer. Don’t Give Up If you feel exhausted by the weight of your convictions, rejoice. The weariness you feel is not a sign of failure; it is a sign of your humanity meeting a divine calling. You are doing exactly what you were meant to do: living a life that reflects God's kingdom. Remember the promise in Galatians 6:9:"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." When we rejoice in the midst of suffering, we take away the enemy’s greatest weapon. We prove that our joy isn't tied to our circumstances, but to our Savior. So, keep going. Don’t let the friction slow you down—let it remind you that you’re finally heading in the right direction.  This world seems to become more demanding of our time and efforts more and more with each passing day. The cost of living is always increasing, which means that we have to work longer; this takes time away from our rest. We are created to work, God created Adam and then gave him a job, to name the animals and work the fields. God also tells us the importance of rest, but resting on the seventh day of creation. God is never tired or worn out; therefore He doesn't rest out of necessity, but out of a demonstration of how important it is for us to rest. In order to rest we must first understand what it means to rest. We must also recognize what robs us of the rest that we need in our lives and lastly what fruits are born in the midst of rest.
What Rest Means The meaning of the word rest is not the absence of work, but the " settled delight" in God. This means that we can work and still be resting. When we do things that fill our souls, move us closer to the Lord and don't take a lot of effort, we are resting. An example of this for me would be writing. I am applying effort by typing, but my mind is at ease as I focus on the Lord to write the lesson He has given me. I often listen to calming Christian music in the background, this isn't labor but relaxes my mind and allows me to focus on the Lord. I have some friends who enjoy sewing or gardening. What Steals our Rest Now that we know what rest is, we need to learn what steals our rest. Many things can be a factor, but it is mainly anything that takes our eyes off of the Lord. Some people feel like they are never doing enough, having a full schedule but the supply and demand is out of obligation or guilt rather than love for the Lord. This is a false belief, God doesn't care how much we do, but the motive is why we are doing what we do. Another thing that can steal our rest is outside influences. We can be so caught up in the distraction of social media, TV, or even games that the attempt of "cutting off our mind" leads to endless scrolling which is not honoring to the Lord, defeating the purpose of true rest. In order to recharge we must be plugged into the source (Jesus) that fills us and gives us the ability to keep going. When we distract our minds or allow things to steal our rest; we are not giving our minds enough quiet time to allow the Lord to do His work for us. The Results of Intimacy with the Lord When we deepen our intimacy with the Lord by focusing our minds on Him, we are able to hear a "still small voice" more so. We learn who He is and draw closer to Him. This allows us to build a deeper relationship with the Father that He desires with us. By spending time with the one who knows all we are strengthened so that we can serve others affectionately. When we are full of the Lord's presence we can fill others up, but if we are not full ourselves; how can we give what we don't have to others? When we take time for the Lord and rest in Him, we are more present in our family and friends. We are able to see His hands at work in our lives. This should encourage us in return to spend more time with Him, deepening our desire to rest in the Lord. Putting it into Practice I encourage you to take time out of your day and rest in the Lord, focus your mindset on Him. Find a hobby and dedicate it to Him, worshipping Him with our actions. Spend time with the provider in prayer and get to know Him by reading His Bible. All three of these are how we can glorify God in a time of rest. In return He will strengthen us and draw closer to us in our daily walk with Him.  10,000 steps in one day is what is considered healthy. Half your body weight in water, along with vitamins and supplements. To keep up a healthy lifestyle you must also train your body with exercise at least twice a week. People who work out seem simple, obtainable even. The people who think that this is difficult are people who are unprepared. How can you be unprepared with your body? The answer is simple. If we do not treat our body so that it can perform the best we are unprepared for the task we put our body through. Example of this would be, if a runner is going to run a marathon and doesn't prepare by training and hydrating then the task at hand will be impossible to complete.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 describes our body as a temple to the Holy Spirit. This means that our body isn't ours but a place for the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of us. Our body isn't our own, belonging to God and should be treated as borrowed not owned. If I was to borrow a car from my uncle I would make sure that it was clean and had a full tank of gas when I returned it. If it was my car, it might need to be vacuumed and run on empty. We have more pride in things when we realize that it is not ours. Health isn't just about vanity; it's maintaining its condition so you can better serve others and fulfill your purpose. Our bodies are connected to our minds. If we are upset often our bodies are sore as a result of that feeling. If we experience pleasure like a foot rub, it sends dopamine to our brains to make us feel relaxed and happy. This is called our psychosomatic health—the idea that our emotional and mental state directly impacts our physical well-being. The Bible agrees with this theory in Proverbs 17:22: "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." How we feel affects our health. Proverbs 14:30 says "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." God wants us to give our worries and stress to him, releasing our bodies from the things that weigh us down. Another way we can treat our body like a temple is to practice self control. The Bible celebrates food and rest while it cautions against the lack of self-control. This can be things like gluttony or drunkenness. The Bible teaches us to have discipline in these areas that will cause us to sin. God also gives us instruction to rest, this also comes as a form of self control, like myself making time to rest is often difficult when there seems to be many tasks that need to be completed. The Bible tells us to hold the Sabbath (Sunday) as a Holy day. We need rest, and to neglect oneself of rest is going against how God designed us to best be able to function. The last subject that will help us treat our body worthy of the Holy Spirit is to keep it clean. Not only should we have proper hygiene for those around us, but also for Him who dwells in us. When I was little I always imagined my heart as a tiny studio apartment that my "little" Jesus lived in, this is how my young mind processed it. Although Jesus is anything but little, it is important to keep ourselves clean. The Levitical Laws taught us this by washing, quarantine for skin diseases, and avoiding certain meats (like pork or shellfish in an era without refrigeration) likely prevented many food borne illnesses and infections. Not saying that we can eat certain foods, but the principle of taking care of one's hygiene had a vital opponent in health as well. If we are well, we can serve. The Bible tells us that our body, mind, and spirit belong to the Lord and by taking care of each other, we are able to fulfill the purpose that we were created for, to give God glory with our lives. |
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