SOUL REST

I was in a prayer meeting with a friend and as we began to worship in song, a very powerful chorus was rendered to the Lord. A song I so love, not knowing I have always murdered the lyrics. The song goes thus: “Thanks thanks, I give you thanks for all you have done, I am so blessed my soul is at rest, oh Lord, I give you thanks”. The line I have always done injustice to is: “my soul is at rest” which I always sing as “and so exalted”. Songs are powerful; inspired ones. So, as he took the line correctly, the words struck my spirit so very much. I began to search in my spirit what my soul being at rest meant and if that is really the case.

In the beginning God created Man from the dust of the ground and the scripture made us to understand that God breathed into his nostrils and he became a living SOUL. Man had no issues to worry about, no fears or concerns that were so overwhelming. The most interesting part of it was that he had no reason to be afraid of God. God wasn’t a fear father-figure. He didn’t need any permission from God to do anything. God validated everything he does as correct.

The soul (Greek, “psyche”) is a combination of the mind, the will and emotions. Adam’s mind was exactly a product of God’s mind. Each time he saw an animal, he would conceive a picture of the name he feels good for the animal and that was it. His will was also in line to do the dictates of God; Eve mentioned to the serpent how they have been keeping to the instructions of God not to eat a certain fruit. Adam must have tutored Eve on this, to channel their will in God. The emotion of man at this time was also positive; each time God came into the garden they were always excited. In essence, man’s soul was at rest.

However, as soon as sin set in, there was a problem. The reason their soul had so much rest was gone- the life in the soul. The function of the life in the soul was to enable them see the way God sees. Immediately this was gone, they became restless.

The order now changed: through their mind they saw the need for covering their nakedness which meant nothing to them before. Their will came into action; they decided to cut leaves to make clothes for themselves. Their emotions became polluted as it now knew what guilt and fear meant. As soon as God called on them, it wasn’t the usual reception, they hid themselves.

The basic thing that happened to Adam and Eve was that they could no longer see themselves the way God sees them. Have you observed the scriptures that when God came to visit them in the garden after they sinned He didn’t come with the voice of condemnation? He came as if He had no idea of what they had done. But, He still came forth stretching out His hands to them, but man could no longer see himself the way God sees him. That brought them to the state of unrest. Their sight got missing because the life in it was cut off.

So, a soul that has no rest is plagued by the struggle of trying to be pleasing to God. Rules and systems to be acceptable to God (Cutting leaves) are generated and it still always end up not right. There is a constant feeling such a person is not making God happy as much as effort is been made. There is a constant fear God will strike at any moment at the smallest error committed. Whenever there is an unpleasant occurrence, it is quickly tied to one thing done the last time that doesn’t feel right. So, it is God punishing for the offence. Such soul is so conscious of sin, becomes so worried about issues of life and sees God as a warlord. In an ignorance of humility, such a soul confesses himself to be just an ordinary sinner. And when asked about making heaven when death comes to the physical body, the answer is usually “only God knows those who are serving Him”.

Since Jesus came to die for our sins, and He made a call for man to bring all the heavy yoke to Him in exchange for the rest that was lost in the beginning, there is no justification for feeling unrest anymore. (Matt 11:28). He is referring to all that man had to do with his soul that wasn’t in the original plan before unrest set in. Jesus already bore all the worrying, it is of no use borrowing to pay for a good already paid for.

Quit the struggling. The fear of not offending God will lead you to a state of unrest. He wants you to relate with Him as a Father and not as though He is farther.  

Get into the Word and see how God sees you now. Jesus has restored the life, pick up your sight, He calls you Righteous, stand up to it.

Be Innovated

Olufemi Ibitoye

@toyeolufemi