Our Daily Bread: Voices of FaithIhe Atụ

Rest for Every Mile

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God. -Hebrews 4:9

Discrimination, rejection, and exclusion didn’t stop Julia A. J. Foote. One of many Black faith leaders, she was “hands and feet” for the gospel and justice.

This traveling evangelist became the first female deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Foote logged more than ten thousand miles from 1840 to 1860, preaching holiness, salvation, and equal rights by horse, stagecoach, train, boat, and walking.

She later wrote that her ministry was for all people, but especially for Black people to find salvation and what she called “sweet soul rest.”

Hebrews 4 says that this “promise of entering his rest still stands,” and “we who have believed enter that rest” (vv. 1, 3). No matter what, our souls can rest in Him. “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God” (v. 9) here and in eternity.

When we are in a season of hard work and feel weary, we can remember that we have a Savior who empathizes with our weakness. God understands when we are tempted to worry or cut corners or do less than our best work.

In these moments, we can pray to Him to “receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (v. 16). He will carry us through. With each mile we go to do His work, He helps us to keep going and assures us of rest in Him.

Monika R. A. Miller

What work issues might you need to take confidently before His throne?

Father of the Sabbath, thank You for leading me to rest.