Finding True Rest
An abstract of Connor Kraus’ sermon on March 9, 2025, in the Joshua series. Watch the sermon video here.
Have you ever felt completely worn out? Not just tired from a long day, but deep-down exhausted in your soul? You're not alone. In our busy world, we all chase after things we hope will give us peace—more money, better relationships, success at work, or just a good vacation. But what if the rest we're looking for can't be found in any of these things?
The Promise of Rest
In the book of Joshua, God makes an incredible promise to the Israelites. After years of being slaves in Egypt and wandering in the desert, God tells them He will give them rest. Not just a good night’s sleep but deep, lasting peace in the land He promised them.
"Remember what Moses, the Lord's servant, commanded you when he said, the Lord your God will give you rest, and he will give you this land." (Joshua 1:13)
God's people fought battles for about seven years to claim this promised land. They defeated 31 different kings! After all that fighting, the Bible says, "The land had rest from war" (Joshua 11:23). They finally had peace from their enemies.
The Problem with Surface-Level Peace
But here's where things get tricky. The Israelites made a big mistake—one we often make too. They thought rest was just about having no more battles to fight. They focused on the surface-level peace instead of the deeper peace God wanted for them.
God's plan wasn't just to give them a break from fighting. He wanted them to trust Him completely and find their ultimate rest in their relationship with Him. But instead, they treated God like a genie who fixes problems, not as their loving Creator who wanted their hearts.
As time went on, the Israelites wobbled like a child learning to ride a bike without training wheels. They started well but eventually crashed. Instead of finding permanent rest in God, they fell into a cycle of turning to Him when they had problems and forgetting Him when things were good.
What We Chase Instead of True Rest
We do the same thing today. We chase after things that promise to make us happy:
A perfect body
More money
Career success
Control over our lives
Knowledge and education
Vacations and experiences
Social media followers
These things might not be bad by themselves. Working hard at your job is good! But when we tell ourselves, "If I just had that, everything would be okay," we're setting ourselves up for disappointment.
It's like reaching the end of a rainbow only to find it's moved further away. Or eating sugary cereal that fills you up for a little while but leaves you hungry again two hours later. These things never fully satisfy us—they just make us want more.
Jesus Offers a Better Way
Jesus knew about our endless search for rest. That's why He offered us something better:
"Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly 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)
Jesus compares following Him to wearing a yoke—a wooden frame that connected two oxen pulling a plow. But His yoke is light compared to the heavy burdens we put on ourselves when we chase after things that don't satisfy.
How Our Rest Differs from Israel's
There's an important difference between us and the Israelites. For them, being faithful to God often meant they prospered physically—their crops grew, they had many children, and their enemies stayed away.
For us today, that connection isn't guaranteed. Many faithful Christians around the world suffer greatly for their faith. Our earthly comfort and our spiritual peace aren't always linked.
But that doesn't mean we can't have deep rest. The peace Jesus offers isn't primarily about fixing our earthly problems—it's about giving us something that helps us face those problems with hope.
Eternal Rest Is Coming
The Bible ends with a beautiful picture of the ultimate rest God has planned:
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away …. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away." (Extracts from Revelation 21)
This is the rest God has been pointing us toward all along—perfect peace with Him forever, where all the broken things are finally fixed.
Choosing the Lighter Load
Sometimes, when we spend bittersweet time with a follower of Jesus who is near the end of their life, we can pick up on something remarkable by the world’s understanding. Instead of being afraid, they may be excited or impatient – they can’t wait to meet Jesus! They are demonstrating a true peace that goes beyond earthly circumstances.
We all face a choice: chase temporary rest that never fully satisfies, or accept the eternal rest Jesus offers. It's like choosing between carrying a heavy piece of furniture or a light box of linens when helping someone move. Why would we choose the heavier load?
Jesus lived a perfect life and died on the cross to give us this gift of peace. We don't have to earn it or work for it—we just have to believe and accept it.
Your Invitation to True Rest
Are you tired of searching for peace in things that don't last? Do you want the kind of rest that comes from a deep confidence that goes beyond your current problems?
God designed you for a relationship with Him. Until that relationship is restored, there will always be something missing, no matter what else you achieve or acquire in life.
The good news is that you can have lasting peace today. Jesus has already done the hard work. He's offering you rest for your soul right now.
Your Next Step
We'd love to help you learn more about this incredible gift. Visit us this Sunday at 9 or 10:30 a.m. to explore what it means to find true rest in Jesus. You don't have to have it all figured out—just come as you are. Together, we're learning how to set down our heavy burdens and pick up the lighter load Jesus offers. Plan a visit today.