So often, we get caught up in the busy-ness of ourselves. If we aren't caught up in ourselves, it may be ministry or simply getting our life in "order". It seems we're busy with anything but God and resting in our relationship with Him. Oswald chambers said:
"It is never do, do, with the Lord, but be, be and He will do through you."
There are always times a believer needs to rest in our relationship with God, but more specifically, in times of busy-ness and times of discouragement.
Usually, there is an apathy that accompanies our busy-ness, whether it be in ministry or self. Being busy in the ministry is, of course needful, but at the same time, it is needful to rest in the knowledge that God will grow a ministry or work through a ministry, in His time and according to His will. Sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to get the results in ministry that we think should be there. In our thinking, when that doesn't happen, we logically conclude that we have to do more, because obviously what we're doing isn't enough, instead of resting in the truth that God is sovereign. Always has been, still is, and always will be. We are commanded to be good and faithful stewards, however, being busy can sort of blind us from resting and to "be still and know". We are only human and have to remember that our bodies need rest and replenishment. But much more important than that is to rest in the sovereignty of Almighty God, to do what He will, in His time, and being led by Him. Too much activity, or "do, do" as Oswald Chambers said, can and eventually will burn us out. In Exodus 18 and specifically verses 17-23, Jethro advises his son in law to not do so much. The context is that Moses was trying to be a mediator between the people and God, but the point is that he placed too much responsibility on himself. Verse 18 is probably a key verse for this context. Jethro tells Moses, "Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone." God is sovereign over the results of a ministry and also will guide and lead in the amount of activity. To rest in the sovereignty of God also assures to prevent burning out (otherwise we won't be of use to God).
It is also human nature to think we need to better our lives. It's human nature to create our own happiness in life, mainly by doing what our flesh enjoys. Wherever a believer is in this life is right where the Lord wants them, whether it is fully surrendered over to God or in a season of backsliding. God is still sovereign regardless of what we may think about ourselves, lives, or our current state. Resting in the sovereignty of God brings with it an inexplicable peace and comfort. The Lord is sovereign over the timing of everything in the believers life.
In 2 Corinthians 4:8, Paul says that "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;".
The passage that comes to mind is in Acts 16 where Paul and Silas are wrongfully imprisoned. Their circumstances were, quite literally, discouraging, both physically and mentally, I'm sure. Verse 25 states that they were singing praise to God, and praying, at midnight, (probably a time when, physiologically and mentally, they would be the weakest.) In other words, these men were resting in God's sovereignty, giving them an inexplicable peace and comfort. It's definitely hard to imagine that situation, but no situation is dire enough for the Lord.
The Psalmist said "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."
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