The Lie of Activity

The enemy is lying to us. He tells us we have to keep going. He says, if we stop, everything will fall apart. He wants us to believe everything depends on us.

When we believe that everything depends on us, it often leads to what I have heard called the captivity of activity. This is when we get so caught up in constant activity, we cannot think. We go, go, go. We run from thing to thing. We are busy. We are rushed. At times we are productive, but more often we are mentally scattered, physically exhausted, and emotionally spent.

The truth is God is not impressed by all we can accomplish. He does not need us. His work is not dependent on our ability. And news flash, the world will not fall apart without us.

When God created the world He set a precedent, one many of us choose to ignore. In creation God established rhythm, and He ordained rest. For six days God spoke and formed the world. He created the sea, plants, animals, and mankind. He worked, He produced, and He performed. Then on the seventh day, He rested.

When God rested, He demonstrated for us that rest is not only good, but it is necessary. God does not see rest as optional. He set an example to show us His design, to teach us about His character, and to remind us of our need for Him.

Rest has both a physical and a spiritual component. Just as God took the seventh day to stop, all of us need to take a physical rest from work. Working more hours does not mean we accomplish more. In fact, there is a law of diminishing returns. Once we pass a certain point, our work becomes ineffective. God’s design is for us to both work hard and rest hard.

In addition to recharging our bodies, we need to recharge our souls. Rest reminds us that we depend on God. When we stop, we acknowledge that God is the one holding everything together, not us. Spiritual rest begins with ceasing from physical work but is much deeper. Spiritual rest is allowing our souls to find peace, letting our minds stop, worshiping God, and surrendering ourselves to Him.

The enemy wants you to stay too busy. Too busy to hear from God. Too busy to love others. Too busy to find hope and healing. But God’s message from the beginning of time is that of rest. He calls us to stop our activity and enjoy His presence.

Slow down.

Stop.

Cease striving.

Listen.

God is saying:
When you are weary and overwhelmed, come to me. I provide rest. (Matthew 11:28) I hold the whole world together. There is nothing beyond my control. (Colossians 1:15-16) I oversee everything. You can trust that I am God and stop trying so hard to be in control. (Psalm 46:10) I am a safe place for you. You can pour out everything in your heart to me. I will hear you and I will protect you. (Psalm 62:7-8) When you trust me, I give perfect and powerful peace. (Isaiah 26:3) Today is the day to surrender and choose to receive my rest. (Hebrews 4:7)

Whose voice will you listen to? The voice of the enemy or the voice of our loving God?

---

“By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”
Genesis 2:2-3 NASB

“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall through following the same example of disobedience.”
Hebrews 4:9-11