Rest Is Work With Direction

I want to start identifying what rest looks like.

If grinding is aimless striving that tires you out, then rest would be just the opposite.

Rest is ceasing from all the aimless striving so you can be still and get direction from God on what you should be doing.

But don't get the idea that resting is being lazy.

You still work hard.

The difference is that your work has a defined mission.

A good example of this is in Luke 5.

Peter had a fishing business, and one night he spent the entire night casting his net but not pulling in any fish.

He was exhausted and ready to get home, get something to eat, and go to bed.

While he was washing his nets, Jesus asked to use his boat so He could teach.

Peter let Him use the boat.

After Jesus finished teaching, He told Peter to go fishing again.

Peter basically said, “We've already done this all night.”

But Jesus was undeterred.

Peter reluctantly agreed.

And to his amazement, Jesus knew what He was talking about.

Peter and his partners pulled in so many fish that their boats almost sank.

What happened?

Peter had been grinding all night.

But when he stopped trying to figure things out himself long enough to get direction from Jesus, everything changed.

The problem wasn't that Peter wasn't working hard enough.

He was working hard without direction.

Take the first 15 minutes of your day and be still.

Stop striving.

Get direction.

Then go cast your net where God tells you to.

Rest isn't about doing less.

It's about knowing what you're supposed to be doing.