Soul-Sleep
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls” Matthew 11:29 NASB
Rest – One measure of the integrity of your life is the tranquility of your sleep. To sleep without anxiety, without fear, without the restlessness of compulsive desire is a reflection of the purity of your relationships with God and others. For many of us, such a sleep is but a dream. Our waking moments are dimly lit nightmares that shine with searchlight intensity when we close our eyes. But it doesn’t have to be like this.
Matthew’s Greek translator uses the word anapuasis. It is a combination of two Greek words – ana (a prefix that means “again”) and pauo (a root word meaning “to give rest”). This word describes inward tranquility while performing necessary labor. The emphasis is on the inner life, not on the outward activity. Synonyms are recovery of breath or relaxing of chords or strings drawn too tight, a restful, natural sleep or an inner peace. In this verse, Yeshua promises the one thing that people in recovery seek most – inner peace. Think of the times you have watched a child sleep. There is an undisturbed tranquility in that rest – a peacefulness that comes from letting go of all cares and concerns. It is the sleep of trusting dependence.
We know all too well the torment in our souls. We know the constant turmoil of compulsion and white-knuckled struggle. But here Yeshua promises rest, the gentle rest of a sleep without nightmares, the rest of deep-seated serenity and calm. He does not promise that the necessary labor will be removed. He promises that we will be able to go about living with peace of mind and tranquil hearts. It is an offer that sounds almost too good to be true. But it is true. Real spirituality leads us to peace of heart and tranquility of mind. We know that this is a gift because no matter how hard we tried to find it when the compulsions of life ruled us, we never knew serenity. What an unbelievable joy to know that our surrender will bring us rest, not struggle. The pathway to serenity is not a Herculean fight but a gentle submission.
In a world where everything is too busy, too worried and too chaotic, Yeshua promises us a center of restful retreat. How can he make this promise? Because he knows that life is not in our hands but in the hands of his Father. Relax. God is in charge. Depend entirely on Him. You can sleep tonight.
Topical Index: rest, sleep, anapuasis, surrender, Matthew 11:29
Amein!
For the Messiah’s love has hold of us, because we are convinced that One Man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead), and that He died on behalf of all in order that those who live should not live any longer for themselves but for the One who on their behalf died and was raised. So from now on, we do not look at anyone from a worldly viewpoint. Even if we once regarded the Messiah from a worldly viewpoint, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation – the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new! And it is all from G-d, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to Himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation, which is that G-d in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to Himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, G-d is making His appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, “Be reconciled to YHWH! G-d made this sinless Man, (this second Adam) to be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in (blood-covenant) union with Him we might fully share in G-d’s righteousness.”
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed,
Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine;
Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began;
Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.
And all the saint sing; o|~
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
MEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN
Good word …
THIS IS SO TRUE:
“Rest – One measure of the integrity of your life is the tranquility of your sleep. To sleep without anxiety, without fear, without the restlessness of compulsive desire is a reflection of the purity of your relationships with God and others. For many of us, such a sleep is but a dream. Our waking moments are dimly lit nightmares that shine with searchlight intensity when we close our eyes. But it doesn’t have to be like this.”
NO, IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE LIKE A NIGHTMARE WITH NO SLEEP – WHEN I FINALLY SURRENDERED MY LIFE TO HIM – HE HAS GIVEN ME SWEET SLEEP – EVEN AS A CHILD I COULD NEVER SLEEP FOR FEAR – WAS ALWAYS HEARING FOOTSTEPS & SOUNDS OUTSIDE MY WINDOW & SLEPT SO LIGHT – HEARING EVERY SOUND & LAYING IN BED FRIGHTENED – BUT I DON’T HAVE THAT PROBLEM AFTER MANY YEARS OF BEING SURRENDERED TO HIM & IT IS SO SWEET. I HAVE FRIENDS THAT CANNOT SLEEP AT ALL & I DO NOT ENVY THEM AT ALL EITHER.
I USED TO BE DEATHLY AFRAID OF STORMS & TORNADOES BUT THAT CEASED MANY YEARS AGO TOO. EVEN WHEN I’M TOTALLY PERPLEXED ABOUT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE – HE GIVES ME SWEET SLEEP & I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THIS GIFT – HIS WORD MADE COMPLETE IN ME… SWEET SLEEP… ♥
” inner peace. Think of the times you have watched a child sleep. There is an undisturbed tranquility in that rest – a peacefulness that comes from letting go of all cares and concerns. It is the sleep of trusting dependence.”
“But here Yeshua promises rest, the gentle rest of a sleep without nightmares, the rest of deep-seated serenity and calm. He promises that we will be able to go about living with peace of mind and tranquil hearts. It is an offer that sounds almost too good to be true. But it is true. Real spirituality leads us to peace of heart and tranquility of mind. We know that this is a gift. What an unbelievable joy to know that our surrender will bring us rest, not struggle. The pathway to serenity is not a Herculean fight but a gentle submission.”
THE PRECIOUS SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD:
“In a world where everything is too busy, too worried and too chaotic, Yeshua promises us a center of restful retreat. How can he make this promise? Because he knows that life is not in our hands but in the hands of his Father. Relax. God is in charge. Depend entirely on Him. You can sleep tonight.”
I recently inquired of one of the trainers at a local gym I attend what the three-legged stool of life was. I filled in the first two for her: diet and exercise, and I left the third one blank for her to “fill in.” Diet, exercise and ???? At least one-third of our lives is spend “resting”.
Is this a physical rest or a spiritual rest? (Be careful now..- all you “Greek-thinkers out there!- lol!) The answer is a resounding “YES!”- it is. It is physical (yes) and it is spirtual (yes). It is emotional, physical, mental, economical, financial..- the answer is (D.)- “all of the above.”
Our Father knows our needs and one of our desperate needs is rest. Our Shepherd enjoined the talmudim: “Come apart and rest awhile..”. Friend..- either “come apart” or come apart. We are not (surprise,surprise) machines. We frail and fallible creatures need rest- in every form and fashion it comes in.
Think on these two things. This was G-d’s promise to David: ~ But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. ~ Peace and quiet. Notice how these two are travelling companions? I love (love) peaceful and quiet days.
~For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: but you would not. ~ (Isaiah 30.15)
~”Behold a greater than Solomon is here” ~ (Luke 11:31)
lol!- another “need” might be a good spell-check program! (or maybe I could hire a proof-reader!)
Praise Him for His open invitation to “whosoever will”- Come unto me.. and I will give you rest..
“Come to Me” by Kari Jobe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvzznNAcL24 6 minutes
Come to me you weary ones
And I will give you rest,
I will give you rest
Come to me you weary ones
And I will give you rest,
I will give you rest
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light
Take Me upon you, I will give you rest
Come to me you broken ones
And I will give you peace,
I will give you peace
Come to me you broken ones
And I will give you peace,
I will give you peace
I will calm your waters,
I will whisper, “Peace be still”
Take Me upon you, I will give you peace
Come to Me, come to Me, come to Me
I have been waiting for you here,
I have been waiting for you here
Come to me you burdened ones
And will give you joy,
I will give you joy
Come to me you burdened ones
And will give you joy,
I will give you joy
You will rise like eagles and My joy will be your strength
Take Me upon you, I will give you joy
Come to me, come to Me, come to Me
I have been waiting for you here,
He has been waiting for you here
Come, come to Him
Come and find your peace,
Come and find your rest,
Come and find your joy,
He is waiting here for you
He is waiting here for you with open arms
To hold you, to embrace your heart, to love you
He is waiting here, He is waiting here
Just reading your article brings serenity.
I used to have very restful sleep and hardly any dreams unless they are clearly from ABBA, until lately, going through some personal issues. My prayers each night would be “Your will be done, not mine, ABBA, just show me some confirmations, that what I am doing is according to Your purpose in my life.”
I do struggle with thoughts going through my mind as I lie in bed, but eventually fall sound asleep.
I guess we go through such phases of life, as we’re tested further in our walk of obedience.
Shalom.