Supernatural Rest

Peter was SLEEPING between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold an angel of the Lord stood next to him and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands.

Acts 12:6-7

This passage literally "struck" me this morning. I have read it many times. I know the story. I have even talked about this verse with other people. Today, though, as I sat on the balcony, looking out at the ocean, hearing the waves crash on the shore, I am struck by the wonderful gift God gives us in peace and rest. True, deep, rest. The kind of rest that is supernatural. The peace that can only come from Jesus.

Peter was in prison. Possibly facing death. Herod had already killed James. Yet, Peter was sleeping. He was sleeping so deeply that when an angel, an ANGEL, came in the room and a bright light shone in the cell Peter did not wake up. NOW, that is a supernatural, restful sleep.

I think sometimes we are afraid to truly rest. We, as women especially, are afraid that the world will fall apart without us. Or we are afraid that people may discover that someone else can do the job better and that we are not really needed. So, we go and go and go until we literally fall apart.

I truly feel like though that God calls us to regular periods of rest. That is why he gave us the Sabbath. I believe that God desires us to get away and truly rest in Him. A retreat. Not from the world but TO HIM. Times where we can walk and talk with God. To be filled and renewed to go back and face the world afresh. To fight the battles we need to fight. To stand strong.

Even the strongest soldier needs rest. That is why the Army has R and R. Rest and relaxation. The Armed Forces of the United States recognizes the need for their soldiers to rest. We are God's soldiers and face battles every day. We also need to rest at times so we can better fight against our enemy, Satan. Burnout happens when we do not rest. 

For many years I felt guilty when I would be away from the kids. That I was a bad mom for leaving them. Selfish almost. My dear husband and through the prompting of the Lord I began to realize that times away from them and filling myself up with the Word of God and prayer actually made me a better mother and wife. I am not talking about going to a spa or a movie. I am talking about time set apart for just learning more about Jesus and allowing Him to comfort us and strengthen us. A time of intense personal devotions. 

The truth is that we all need rest. It is how we were created. When we don't find time to rest, things can go south very quickly. Sometimes God gives us wonderful times of rest and rejuvenation like I have had this past weekend. He send us friends who desire to bless others and allow his beach condo to be used by a group of women writers who encourage one another and who write what God has placed on their hearts. Other times He may cause a sickness or injury to sideline us and make it so we can do nothing but rest.

Maybe Peter was just exhausted. Maybe he had run himself ragged and prison was the one place God had for him to find rest. And boy, did he find it. He had probably spent so much time on his knees before God that he fell into a deep sleep. So much so that even an angel of the lord could not wake him, except when he struck him. 

Rest is needful and a wonderful gift God has given us. We are better equipped to fight the battles we face everyday when we are rested. I know that for some people it is hard or impossible to find rest. I think of the year I had four little ones and pregnant with number 5 while my husband was deployed to Kuwait for over  a year. My rest was letting the children watch TV at night. Probably not the best idea but it allowed me time to rest. I think of when I am in the midst of a theater production and am coming home after 10 almost every night for two weeks. It is then I find my rest in the down time between scenes to read my Bible and pray and write. I think of my two sisters, one who is a missionary in Spain and the other a pastor's wife in Colorado, who both go to coffee shops to read their Bibles and pray. I recall Susanna Wesley, who was said to throw her apron over head and all her children knew that she was praying.

Each person leads a different life. Each person finds rest in different ways. I cannot go to the beach every weekend, although I would not be upset if I could. Some days it is getting up early and some days reading late at night. Sometimes it is going to our local Bojangles or Sheetz to grab a tea or soda. I have one friend who locks herself in her bathroom. Other women walk or exercise and pray while doing so. There have been times I have just gotten in the car to drive and sang worship songs while not really having a destination. When the kids were little, I would do this while they were all buckled in their car seat. I believe that is how most of my children have come to love worship songs.

The point is to find the rest that comes from spending time with the Lord. We need to make it a priority and ask God to help us find that restful time to spend with Him.