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The 3 Enemies of Rest

 
Adam Mabry | May 8, 2018

Would it surprise you to learn that rest is under attack?

If l were Satan my goal would be to make sure Christians were as useless as could they be. I would set about trying to convince them of all sorts of great-sounding reasons to rarely (and hopefully never) get around to resting. Here are three ways he keeps us from entering the rest God offers and commands.

1. “I Am What I Do.” (The False Virtue of Busyness.)

One of the biggest lies the modern world has swallowed hook, line, and sinker is the belief that busier is better. In fact, we are addicted to busyness. When we say, “oh, I’m so busy this week,” what we really mean is “Look how important I am.” We believe that if we weren’t doing all these things, the world would end.

The truth is, of course we’re busy, but busyness is not a virtue. In fact, it could very well become a vice in my life that Satan uses to keep us from God.

2. “God’s Given Me Too Much to Do!” (The Religious Achiever Reflex.)

For some of us, the idea of finding time to rest feels impossible, even if it’s for God. How can God command you to take a day off when you’re already trying so hard to do all the other things He’s given to you? It’s like Pharoah forcing the Israelites to make the same amount of bricks, but with no straw (Exodus 5 v 1-21).

The truth is, that mindset comes from a place of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. You might be using God’s instructions about productivity to hide from your direct relationship with God Himself. Even “good” activities, when they come at the expense of God’s invitation to rest with Him, derail us spiritually.

3. “If I Stop, Life Just Won’t Work Out.” (The Irreligious False Heaven.)

So many books, seminars, and techniques are designed to help you get the things in this world that seem they’ll bring you the restful paradise you’re longing for. Of course, none of those heavens exist.

Work, money, kids, health, sex, food, and drink--are good things. God made each of them. But pursued too much, for the wrong reasons, they don’t bring us rest. They burn us out.

Fighting False Rest

The refusal to stop and rest is a refusal to accept the way God created us. It is a subtle rejection of God’s ability to rule His world, rescue His people, and rejuvenate them along the way. Rest--a time holy to the Lord--declares who rules, who rescues, and who refreshes.

True Sabbath rest is about learning a new rhythm to life where we celebrate the sovereignty of God, enjoy the liberation of the Gospel, and truly trust the Salvation Jesus gives.
 

This is adapted from The Art of Rest by Adam Mabry. Discover the secret to real, realistic, non-rules-based spiritual refreshment with this helpful book as your guide.

Adam Mabry

Adam Mabry is Lead Pastor of Aletheia Church Boston, MA, a rapidly-growing downtown church. He is married to Hope and they have four children. Before planting Aletheia, they had planted two churches in Edinburgh, Scotland. Adam did his theological studies at Reformed Theological Seminary and is studying for a PhD at Aberdeen. Adam is author of Stop Taking Sides and The Art of Rest.

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