Rest

SUPERNATURAL REST COMES FROM KNOWING THE SUPERNATURAL GOD

Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!” MATTHEW 8:23-27 NLT

GOD’S GREATEST SUPERPOWER IS HAVING ALL THE POWER

But our God is in heavens; he does whatever he pleases. PSALM 115:3 NAS
…[God] who works all things according to the counsel of his will. EPHESIANS 1:11 ESV
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. PSALM 118:24 ESV
Since God is in control, I can rest from worry.

GOD IS BOTH GOOD AND JUST

“The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty.” EXODUS 34:6-7 ESV
“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.” PSALMS 7:11 ESV
[David to Saul] “May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.” 1 SAMUEL 24:11-12 NLT
Since God is just, I can let judgment rest with him.

GOD IS ETERNAL AND UNCHANGING

“I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.” MALACHI 3:6 NLT
God knows all he will do
“Known to God from all eternity are all his works.” ACTS 15:18 KJV
God knows all we will do
You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. PSALM 139:16 NLT
Since God sees all my life, I can rest assured all my sin is forgiven
For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. HEBREWS 10:14 NIV

Discussion Questions

  1. What events or experiences have influenced your view of who God is?
  2. Are there things about God that intimidate or confuse you when it comes to having a relationship with him?
  3. What attributes of God, or practical aspect of his nature (e.g. God has all the power, he is good, just, eternal, unchanging) were new or fresh to you?
  4. When you are experiencing a stormy season in life, do you tend to default more to rest/trust in God or to worry? What attributes of God (listed above) might be able to help during your difficult time?
  5. What difficult things are you going through right now? How can you practice resting/trusting in God while you are going through this situation?

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a place to be quiet and alone with God. Read through Matthew 8:23-27 several times. Allow God to work through your imagination. Place yourself in the story. See yourself on the boat with Jesus and the disciples. What do you experience? What is Jesus inviting you to in the midst of the storm? How does knowing the end of the story impact you? How might God want to apply that to what is happening in your life now? Close your time thanking God for his power over all things and presence in your life.

My Notes