This title seems contradictory. Yet, it is the way of faith. We are called to live in rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 TNIV
We know this is true when we turn to Christ (at least the first time), however, it is a statement of life-style. We are to rest (stand still) while we move forward through time.
I spent some time a number of years ago asking the Lord to reveal what He was trying to tell the Old Covenant Israelites when He emphasized the Sabbath so much. I knew (and know) the Old Testament is for us to learn and be encouraged by as well as it being “shadow” of the New Covenant. So what is the Sabbath a shadow of. Finally, I understood. It took a few months for me to settle my whirling mind into peace and rest, and then I understood.
“Sabbath” throughout the Old Testament is explaining to us who Jesus is! The Sabbath is Jesus! The Sabbath is a prophetic statement of Jesus! He is our rest and the one to whom we are yoked. This co-yoking is our rest in Him.
Stress, worry, an anxious heart and mind are not the way we were intended to spend our moments. We are to rest in Him. We do not know the number of our days, nor the circumstances we have in them, but we do know Him and the reality of His face and the kindness of His heart.
We automatically move forward in time as we live, now we can relax and stand still as we move. I am reminded of an escalator. Many times folk will run ahead on them and I usually feel like doing this in life. It just isn’t fast enough – got to get there – got to get stuff done. Yet, when I realize that I am intended, by my very nature in Him, to just relax and let Him move the time, while I stand still.
As we look forward to the New Year, may we remember to stand still while we move forward. That way, He does the work and we cooperate with Him – resting.
Mannaword 
It would seem your timing is in line with that of the Holy Spirit. Much of what I read, be it devotionals, books, or the Bible, have led me to this very same understanding. Which in turn leads me to believe the Lord is speaking to the Body as a whole, not to mention to those who have not yet asked him to be Lord of their lives.
I’ve often wondered about our fascination with knowing what we are supposed to be doing and making sure we are lining our lives up with God’s purpose for our lives. I don’t think God looks at us as though we are to fulfill a certain purpose or as if we could somehow find the magic key that would open the way to the exact place and time where we are meant to be living out our purpose.
We people are the ones who complicate things. If we are living our lives to the best of our ability in obedience to him while recognizing our inability to get things “right” maybe we would be able to accept ourselves as we are and as the Lord does. I have a difficult time believing we serve a God who looks at us and sees our potential.
He doesn’t see us as we see ourselves either, due to the fact that we see ourselves through eyes of our own rejection and pain and failures. He sees who he created. That is why it makes so much sense to gain understanding of his view over our own.
For me it is as though once I stopped trying to “become” that is when I was able to just “be”. I am no expert in the area of total surrender and rest in the Lord. I am but a work in progress, but truth be known, my walk with him began to make more sense when I began to simply believe what his word says about me about me and I began to get a picture of his heart toward me. God is so good. I don’t deserve him, I know that, but his grace is sufficient.
Thank you for this post Iris. You bless my heart so much.
A few days ago I had an occasion to counsel a young woman in her frustration, because the Lord had never spoke a “purpose” to her and she felt she was missing Him. My counsel is just what you have written here. To be His and to worship Him and return His awesome love is everyone’s purpose. He often will instruct us about some item to be done and in the case of some, some ministry to do, but if we forget the first purpose, whatever we do will end in frustration. I believe the Westminster Catechism said something like: “What is the chief duty of man? To love God and enjoy Him forever.” That may not be an exact quote, but it is close enough.