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SPIRITUAL REST

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 9, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 15.

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SPIRITUAL REST

By Mrs. W. H. Riley

MRS. W. H. RILEY
(Boulder, Colo., Sanitarium)
“REST in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” Ps. 37:7. And He said, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” Ex. 33:14.
The Lord, in His goodness and mercy, has promised to give a peace unto His people, different from that which the world gives. It is a secret rest and peace known only to the true child of God. It passes all understanding, and has the power to keep hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. The Saviour bids, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Sweet promise of rest and assurance of God’s love and goodness!
This is an age of activity, of hurry and worry, of greed and gain. Through ambition, selfish plans are pursued and carried into effect: moderation is put aside. Under this constant strain of daily cares and duties, the body and brain are overworked. Nature intercedes, and endeavors to enforce her laws. The nervous system must suffer, which has a depressing effect upon the mind if not well supported by divine strength. Discouragements and evil forebodings follow. Burdens too heavy for human hearts are carried. The result is doubting, wavering, denying the promise of the Lord: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isa. 26:3.
The Lord’s promises are sure and unfailing. With a pitying eye He watches over His erring children. He desires, yea, yearns, to give them rest, and bids all that labor and are heavy laden to come unto Him, that He may give that promised rest. “The Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve.” Isa. 14:3.
The Lord desires perfect obedience from His children, whole-hearted labor, a work of righteousness which shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness shall be quietness and assurance forever. His people are to dwell in pleasant habitations, in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places. Job said, “Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.” The psalmist rejoiced and found perfect rest in the Lord, expressing his confidence, in these words: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” “Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.” Here the psalmist experienced a spiritual as well as a physical rest. This is what the Lord desires from every one of His children; namely, “a daily spiritual and physical rest,” that He may come into the individual heart with all fullness and joy. This will certainly dispel clouds and gloom from the Christian’s life, helping him to obtain perfect victory at the throne of grace, that he may be a source of strength to others in showing Christ’s love. The Lord’s love and life manifested in the child in giving His word can not return unto Him void, no more than can a stream flowing in its course seaward, however lonely that course may be, fail to gladden some land. As no star ever rose and set without its influence somewhere, so no life can be pure in its purpose, and strong in its strife, and all life not be purer and stronger thereby.