The obsession with hurry and busy-ness in our culture is obvious. When you ask someone how they are doing, often the reply is “busy” as if that is an answer. And if someone is not maxed out with schedules and makes time for rest, the judgement is that they are lazy or just can’t handle it. I have noticed, though, that no matter how hard I work or how much effort I put in, my list is never done. I might complete the to-do’s for one day, but there are a bunch more tomorrow. I must choose to rest, or my schedule will rule me.
We sometimes confuse productivity with God’s plan for us in this life. The saying used to be that cleanliness was next to godliness, but I’m pretty sure the current mindset is that productivity is next to godliness. Yet I don’t see that in Scripture. In fact, God chooses rest for us, not increased effort. I love that Jesus often goes away to pray, or just hangs out with people. He wasn’t in a hurry, and had more time for relationships than for productivity. This is why, I think, He calls Martha to leave her chores and come sit with Him like Mary. Not because He thought doing things was bad, but it wasn’t as important as resting in relationship.
Over and over again, Jesus reminds me that to sit with Him and rest is really the primary goal. Knowing God is eternal life (John 17:3) and when the relationship is the focus, we can experience rest. When I can rest with Him, I actually end up having more energy and more time for everything else.
So we conclude that there is still a full and complete Sabbath-rest waiting for believers to experience. As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works, just as God celebrates his finished works and rests in them. So then we must be eager to experience this faith-rest life, so that no one falls short by following the same pattern of doubt and unbelief. Hebrews 4:9-11