2 Chronicles 14

He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him. And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.

(2Ch 14:5-6)

“The kingdom was quiet under him”, “The land had rest”, “The Lord had given him rest”. The kingdom, the land, his own life; all were quietly at rest. Oh how wonderful it is to be at peace WITH God, for then you can experience the glorious peace OF God. God is so good to us. We were once his enemies, yet He died for us. Then He took us and brought us out of darkness into His light. There, in His presence we have PEACE and REST. We find in Him a respite from the craziness of the world around us, a quiet place in the midst of the noise.

This was what happened to Asa. He found rest in the Lord, and it was wonderful. We too can find peace in the Lord. The book of Hebrews tells us to LABOR to enter in to that rest. This is a labor different from all others. It is not working to earn rest, but working to stay in a place where we can RECEIVE that rest. It is a work of FAITH. Jesus went before us, opening up a way into the heavenlies, a way to have peace with God, a way to REST IN HIM. We can cease from our strivings and rest in His finished work. The “work” we now engage in is a vigilant watch against the enemies that would remove us from that rest; doubt, fear, unbelief, the cares of this world… so we labor to keep ourselves in the love of God, and stay in His rest. Feeling worn out? Maybe it’s time to do a little “work” and return to the place of resting in Jesus!