REST by Mrs. M. E. Steward

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 3, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 22.

REST.

By Mrs. M. E. Steward

BY MRS. M. E. STEWARD.

Physical Rest.

THERE is a system of physical culture which brings the body into a state of perfect rest. Those who are known as “nervous persons” are constantly holding onto themselves. They do not allow the chair or the bed to hold them; even in sleep they keep up this habit of nervous tension. It is seen in unconsciously swinging the foot, biting the lips or the finger nails, drumming with the fingers, clenching the hands and holding them tightly, constantly rocking when sitting in a rocker, etc., etc.

People are learning how to avoid this great and altogether needless expenditure of vitality. Persons have given ten dollars a lesson in Paris to learn how to let go of themselves. The process seems very simple; it is becoming divested of power. The nurse, or operator—you can do it all by yourself—will tell you to begin with the head; imagine it very heavy; gradually it falls on a limp neck. Then take successively the fingers, the hands, the forearms, the entire arms, imagining each so heavy that they fall and are at rest, hanging loosely by the sides. So proceed with the chest, body, lower extremities, till you have let go the whole body.

Often, before the operator has passed over the entire body, some part that had been put to rest has sprung into tension again, and the process has to be repeated. One of the hardest things of which to let go is the tongue. Try it. Protrude it from the mouth, then let it go; if done properly, it will stop between the teeth. Isn’t this quite significant in relation to our words?

We have used the word “imagine” in trying to describe the process of letting go of ourselves. It is not all imagination. This is proved by the case of a man who is dead drunk. He is the best specimen of one who has entirely let go of himself. How much heavier he is to lift than one of the same weight who is all life and activity!

The will has much to do in letting go. It is, in fact, the governing power, as in the entire life. There is great benefit to be derived from this system of absolute rest. Diseases have been cured by it.

Spiritual Rest.

The principles of physical rest which we have mentioned apply spiritually. Our dear Saviour says, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest.” Before this rest can come, there must be a complete letting go. There are those whose hearts are almost breaking to know they are the Lord’s, and yet they hold right onto themselves. The secret of letting go is found in the sure word of God.

In the first place, self, everything to which the natural heart holds, is corrupt and “without strength.” Isa. 1:5, 6; Rom. 5:6. But the Lord desires all men to be saved. 1 Tim. 2:4. He bought us and paid the price, and says we are God’s. 1 Cor. 6:20. Shall we hold onto what does not belong to us? Is that right? Will we continue to rob God of that which is his own.

“Ye are bought with a price.” What does “ye” include? All there is of you, doesn’t it? Your body and soul; your will, thoughts, feelings, affections; your entire character and life; your time, talents, reputation, and all your possessions; your sins, everything that pertains to you. Give your heart, all hard and cold and sinful as it is, to Jesus. It is his; let it go. He wants it just as it is this moment. He will soften, and quicken, and cleanse it “whiter than snow.” Give the Saviour all you can think of; then give him all the rest, that which you cannot think of, asking him to subdue your entire being to himself. Let everything go; consider all as belonging to God.

“But,” say you, “I cannot control myself; my affections, for instance, I cannot give to the Lord, however much I desire to love him.” No, you can do nothing but simply come. “The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise.”—Steps to Christ. Don’t ask, Am I willing to let God have all? Will you do it, and let it all go? This is what Jesus means by, “Come unto me.” Come, confessing your sins. Then ask the Lord to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, and believe he does it.

“Oh, if I could only believe that!” you exclaim. Let go of that unbelief; give it to Christ. Take it for granted he cleanses you, because he says so. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. “If you believe the promise,—believe that you are forgiven and cleansed,—God supplies the fact.”—Steps to Christ. Don’t for a moment think God does not do his part just as soon as you do yours. It is just as much your duty to accept the forgiveness and cleansing as it is to confess; but you cannot have anything unless you do accept it. Having done this, you are clean, by grace, through faith, just as thinking your body was heavy made it so. Jesus has now turned your affections, and all you have given him, into right channels.

The Saviour says, “I will give you rest. That is equivalent to saying that he will save you from all sin, for the Bible says, “The wicked are like the troubled sea when it cannot rest.” You can’t help getting the rest when you come. You know he receives you, for he assures you he will in no wise cast you out; and you know that he can save you, for “he is able to save them to the uttermost [to the last person, and to the full extent] that come unto God by him.” You are sure the everlasting arms are underneath you, that you are in the loving care of the angels, because he has told you so, and there is nothing at all to worry about. Everything is in good, faithful, powerful hands. 1 Peter 5:7. No tongue can tell the sweetness of this rest.

It is loving the service of the Master, for Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you, . . . and ye shall find rest to your souls.” The yoke of Christ was the will of God. He says, “I came down from heaven not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.” He “emptied himself.” Phil. 2:7, Revised Version. What was that but letting go of all that was strictly his? Thus he showed us how we can wear the easy yoke of our Father’s will.

Constant watching and frequent self-examination are needful that one may not get hold of self and sin and unbelief again. “By faith and the continual surrender of your will to Christ [letting it go], you are to maintain connection with him; so long as you do this, he will work in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure.”—Steps to Christ. Whenever anything, even a shadow, intervenes between the soul and the Lord, give it to him, and he will hold and keep you always.