Finding Rest in God

Satan loves to lie to the children of God. He targets those who are determined to enter God’s promised rest. “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:9-11).

What does it mean to “rest in God”? It is to come to a place of total trust in the Lord’s promises — a place where there is no longer any struggle of doubt or fear, but rather a settled confidence. It is a continual belief that God is with us, that he cannot fail, and that he who has called us will see us through.

Just when you think you are entering this new life of trust — when your flesh is crucified and you are depending wholly on the Lord — the old serpent comes with a pack of newly concocted accusations. He knows of your consecration to the Lord, your desire to do all that God has called you to do. So Satan works to get your ear so that he can begin with his horrible lying. Some sample lies of the enemy are:

• “You are not making any spiritual progress.”
• “You’re too weak for spiritual warfare.”
• “God is not with you; you have grieved him somehow.”

Satan whispers and tries to wear you down. But just as Jesus was faithful in his confidence in the Father, our faith is likewise measured. “Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:6). Every believer should do these three things daily:

• Remind yourself that you have an enemy who is out to devour you.
• Examine yourself to see if you have been guilty of the sin of unbelief.
• Be fully persuaded that you have full access to the throne of God.

Beloved, build yourself up “on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20).