What happens when God says rest? Lately, God has repeated the word, “rest”, to me. When God wants us to hear Him, He will repeat Himself through His word, His people, prayer, and sometimes different circumstances. I wrote about hearing God in a post called, “Can You Really Know God’s Will?”. You can read it HERE.
God repeats the need for rest throughout the Bible many times. Rest is important to us and to Him.
Genesis 2:2 New International Version (NIV)
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so, on the seventh day He rested from all his work.
Mark 6:31 New International Version (NIV)
31 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.”
Matthew 8:24 New International Version (NIV)
24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping.
I believe God wanted me to understand why He called me to rest in this season.
In L.B. Cowman’s devotion book, “Streams in the Desert”, Mrs. Cowman compares the rests God calls us to in life with the rests that are in music.
Mrs. Cowman writes, “There is no music during a musical rest, but the rest is part of the making of the music. In the melody of our life, the music is separated here and there by rests. During those rests, we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song.”
She goes on to say, “Yet, how does the musician read the rests? He counts the breaks with unwavering precision and plays his next note with confidence, as if no pause were ever there. God does not write the music of our lives without a plan. Our part is to learn the tune and not get discouraged during the rests. God Himself will count the timing for us.”
The Bible says that the Lord IS our song. Our lives are to play out as a song to Him.
Psalm 118:14 New Living Translation (NLT)
14 The Lord is my strength and my song…
Recently, we lost a dear friend who exemplified this verse. He lived his life as a song to His Lord. Don’t get me wrong, our friend David was a quiet man. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him sing but he lived his life as a hymn to God.
Psalm 40:3 says, He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.
People could see his life song and knew he loved Jesus even though his words were few and precious. He was a beautiful example of a life lived for Christ.
If you are living your life as a song to God, many will see your song and put their trust in Him. In your song of life, there will be rests just like in music that we play or sing.
I’m no musician, so I had to read up on musical rests.
Musical rests indicate a stop in a piece of music. It is a pause in which you play nothing. There are many types of rests. Some last for many measures. Some rests may be so short we do not even notice them. However, other times God may put rests in our lives that lasts for years. They are brief pauses in ministry or action.
The author of an article about musical rests on Dummies.com says, “During a rest, you should get your fingers and hands ready to play the next set of notes. Don’t put your hands in your lap or your pockets. Keep them on the keys, ready to play whatever may follow”
When God calls us to rest, we are not to go to bed and sleep through life or give up, no matter how much we would like to do just that. We have to keep our eyes on the Creator, God, and our fingers on the keys, ready to play whatever may follow.
Some rests in life are forced as in a sudden illness, the loss a loved one, or a career . These times are bitterly painful and discouraging. I wrote a little of my experience with grief HERE.
As Mrs. Cowman says in her devotional, we may believe the music is over and it is the end of our song.
God does not write the music of our lives without a plan. However, He may give us a new song to sing. It may be difficult to learn our new song but He will be there to lead us through it.
Our part is to learn to keep our eyes on God.
He will count out the timing for us so the next note will be full and clear. We can’t forget that rests are part of the making of the music. Just like the beautiful melody, the rests have a purpose. They serve as a time to catch our breath and prepare to continue the song.
When the Creator writes the music of our lives, it isn’t just the sound that matters but also the silence in between the notes.
God has each note counted out. God is Sovereign. Even when we don’t understand, He is good and He loves you beyond reason. So much so, He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for you.
Sing to your Creator, don’t get discouraged when He says rest. He has a plan even when there seems to be no music. God, Himself, will count out the timing and lead you to continue your song.
Enjoy the music of others as you wait, your part will come soon and it will be beautiful.
I love you my friends,
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn some money at no additional cost to you, if you click on the links I provide. Read the full dislcaimer here.
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2020 Shawna Novak
