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The Art of Resting and Running

The book of Hebrews was written to people who were ready to give up. They were beat down with difficulties, surrounded by troubles, and threatened by persecution They suffered from exhaustion and fear. In a word, they were overwhelmed. So the writer of Hebrews calls them to rest. He mentions that word 8 times in just two chapters. Rest.  

But since they were ready to call it quits, that same writer also calls them to run. What! Rest and run? No contradictions exist here. Just beautiful truths that can shape us for a more abundant life. That’s Christianity.   

The book of Hebrews is about staying strong and finishing well. It’s a book for people under intense pressure facing multiple temptations to either stop the race altogether, run in a way that will completely exhaust them, or veer off onto a dangerous path. 

The author gives them a much better alternative that includes two simple commands: Rest and run. Of course you’ll find much more in this book, but you won’t find less. Rest and run—both at the same time. That’s Christianity.  

Resting: Chapter 4 tells us that resting begins with believing the gospel and trusting in Jesus, “For we who have believed enter that rest” (4:3). It goes on to say that all believers in all times face a struggle in continuing in that rest. “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience” (4:11).

What does he mean by rest? He doesn’t mean being irresponsible. It’s not a call to retreat from actively following Jesus. It’s not an invitation to view spiritual disciplines as a threat (prayer, Bible-reading, worship gatherings). It’s not permission to give up on holiness or to abandon a commitment to the church—or your family. 

He doesn’t mean turning into a couch potato and neglecting every legitimate need in your life until social services arrive or the HOA sends you a letter. He doesn’t mean making zero effort at loving and serving others or fulfilling the great commission. 

Resting does not mean neglect. Nor is it a call to distract yourself by gorging on internet gossip, numbing your mind with TV binging, or wasting endless hours on social media. It’s not calling a truce with pornography, too much alcohol, pain medication dependency, or any other form of enslavement. Resting isn’t giving in.     

What I just described is not resting. It’s presumption and sin. It’s rejecting the truth that Jesus has called us to a fight, a struggle, a war, and a race. We’re soldiers and athletes!  

So what does resting mean? In Hebrews 3 and 4, the word rest means “to cease.” Obviously, since Hebrews also tells us to run, that ceasing can’t be to stop living the Christian life. It must mean to stop living it a certain way. That’s the ticket.   

We’re all resting in something. Some central person, object, idea, or pursuit puts a smile on our face, comforts us, and brings us hope. Hebrews is calling us to put Jesus in that place—back at the center of our lives so everything orbits properly.  

Jesus offers us true rest. The rest of God. His offer is astonishing. Have you considered it? In one of the only places where Jesus describes Himself, he says: 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” -Matthew 11

Rest means peace. It means your rat race quest for significance and acceptance is over. Jesus is your identity. It’s an abiding confidence that God is pleased with you, however wrecked, broken, and flawed your life may be—because you belong to Jesus. 

He is your righteousness. He alone, not your performance, resume, beauty, influence, salary, or anything else that belongs to you. Therefore, whatever mess you make in following him is now his mess. And he treasures it. That’s reassuring. That’s rest.   

It says “we who believe” have entered that rest. So the key to remaining in a state of rest rather than a state of panic is continuing to believe the Gospel, and continuing to remind yourself that the score is settled. The verdict is in. There is no moving goal posts, changing score card, or ladder to climb. I love what Richard Lovelace said: 

Ladders are always intimidating, and it is my suspicion that Christians should always assume that they start each day at the top of the ladder in contact with God and renew this assumption whenever they appear to have slipped a rung.

Resting is allowing the weariness to push you towards Christ, the person of rest, not away from Him. Jesus didn’t say “All who are weary and heavy laden, come to Hawaii, or the Florida Keys…” No, he said “Come to me.” It’s not a place of rest that will settle our hearts, but a person of rest. St. Augustine said “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.” Jesus is our person of rest. He alone can settle our hearts.    

One of the Bible’s favorite analogies for unbelief is the violent ocean. “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace,” says my God, for the wicked.” -Isaiah 57:20–21.

Resting is letting go of the things that God has not called you to do. You’re a sheep, not a tiger. You belong to a shepherd who brought you into a flock. You can rest in this: “The Lord is my shepherd…He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” You’re protected and well cared for. The important things are Covered by Jesus. He paid it all. Rest in him. Then and only then can you run the race and face all the fear, anxiety, suffering, and struggle. 

More on running next week. In the meantime, rest in Him!