The end of the month was different than anything I have had on the race yet. Being at the final hostel for this month and being able to let my mind rest has been very important and meaningful. My team worked back to back days until the end of our ministry and we saved up all our off-days to the end and had a lot of time to rest and then after that, debrief began. Being at the Nile River and resting has helped spark the name of this blog title.
The subject of rest, I think theologically, is not an easy aspect but I do know a few things from what I have seen in the bible. I had an opportunity to get plenty of rest for the many previous days. Sometimes it involves journaling. Sometimes it’s having some laughs and a little entertainment. Sometimes it’s doing a lot of reading. Sometimes it’s playing games. Sometimes it’s being still or getting more sleep. My journal has gotten pretty full lately and I finished 5 books this month. I have had lots of meaningful time to be still as well.
Jesus in his humanity needed time to rest. However, his rest involved intimate communication with the Father and he would go to solitary places to pray. After some time, he would go right back into the thick of intentionality with people and minister to them. No one, not even Jesus was wired to do ministry non-stop without rest or prayer and he is God in the flesh. How much more should we as wayward sinful people saved by grace need to rest? Not only that, but our real Sabbath rest is found in him. When the Pharisees challenged him about his disciples going through the fields and gathering food to eat on the Sabbath, He said that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. Remember, the only way you can fully enter rest is through Jesus. Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee, as Augustine would say.
I have also found that it is meaningful to celebrate this month for what has been done for the kingdom and to continually praise God for being who he is not and for what he can give us. Linking together the praise and celebration for what God has accomplished this month can help our minds to rest. There does not seem to be any rest for people who are ungrateful and those who are not thankful cannot see the real goodness of God. Only God can advance his kingdom and it is not a work of just us.
