Healing Rain That Makes Us WholeParaugs

R.E.S.T.— Revive Expectancy, Surrender, and Trust

Many times over the years, the Lord has talked to my heart about rest. He made it clear that Sabbath rest is holy to Him and a gift to me. He also made it clear that He wanted to Revive Expectancy, Surrender, and Trust in my life, some things I had let go of along life’s challenging way. The acronym R.E.S.T. that He gave me is how I now remember to let Him keep leading me on a pathway to the restoration of my spirit, soul, and body.

The key of rest is one of the seven keys to divine health God has given me to unlock wholeness in my life. Picture Jesus putting the key of rest in your hands, too! He’s calling you to receive the gift of rest and renew your first love. Rest signifies that Jesus won back our eternal joy and healed us of our broken hearts.

This world is full of chronic stress many of us internalize, affecting every aspect of our health. Seasons of loss hit us hard, whether the loss of a loved one or even a job. The diagnosis of a serious health condition depletes our strength and hope. Overwork and burnout affect our productivity at work. The internal pain of difficult relationships and unresolved upheaval breaks our hearts. All these things create chronic stress that raises cortisol in the body and disastrously affects the brain. This kind of pressure is at the foundation of many types of illness.

But there is healing and wholeness available! What we need is a “come to Jesus” season where we turn to Him. His burden is much lighter than the world’s weight upon us because He carries it with us and gives rest to our souls. His healing rain of revelation uproots every contributing factor to sickness and disease in our lives.

Is Jesus the Lord of your Sabbath? Do you even take a Sabbath rest? Practicing a weekly day of rest is a biblical principle that brings us emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical health. God created the world in six days, and then He rested. He created the universe with rest for us in mind! Our crowning achievement in life is not working for God; it’s allowing God to work through us. When we stop working in our own limited strength and R.E.S.T. in Him, He does the work in and for us.