Perhaps it’s my age, but “rest” always sounds great. Even if I haven’t really done much, I’m happy to spend some time resting.

When I was younger, I didn’t accept a time of rest so enthusiastically. I remember thinking how boring it was when my parents took a nap. Recess at school was a time of heightened activity, not rest. Weekends were for adventures and parties, not rest. Summer vacations were for new challenges, and spring breaks were for exploring.

Maybe my desire for rest has accumulated over the years because this world is difficult. Every great accomplishment comes with great effort. Often successes are preceded by many failures. And those successes don’t satisfy forever.

When I graduated high school, I was relieved to have finished, but then college presented a variety of new struggles. When I finished college, my respite was cut short by the start a new job. No more summers off either. When I finally bought a house, I thought, now I can rest. But homes require an enormous amount of maintenance.

When sin entered God’s perfect creation, we were saddled with struggle and striving of our own making. In the Garden, before Adam and Eve famously decided they wanted to control things, their work was joyful and easy. When they planted something it grew. When they were hungry, there was an abundant harvest.

After disobeying God, He gave them what they wanted: control. But they were exiled from the Garden. Working the soil became hard and laborious. Childbirth became painful. Roses grew thorns, and pests ate the crops. Life got hard at every turn.

Fortunately, God has offered all His children the opportunity to return to His “rest” where life will be easy and our labors will bring joy and satisfaction.

“For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his.” (Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭10‬, ‭CSB‬‬)

God created everything. It was work for Him, but it was good. And in the end, he was pleased so he rested.

Instead of being like Adam and Eve and trying to control everything, if I give my life over to God — my decisions, my priorities, my worries — He promises to give me rest from my striving, failures, and struggles. And when I trust Him, I can look forward to the perfect future of eternity with Him.

Dear God, thank you for your promise to bring me rest when I obey you instead of insisting on doing things my way. My way is the hard way. Your way is the way of peace and joy. Remind me to seek you when this life feels difficult and everything seems so hard.