Is Your Check Engine Light On?: Finding Spiritual Rest
Introduction
This time of year, many men feel they’re running low— low on energy, focus, and sometimes even hope. If this sounds familiar, it may be time to seek spiritual rest, a tune-up even. If you’re feeling like your own “check engine light” has come on, here are four biblical truths to remind you of God’s grace for your life:
- We don’t have to do it alone – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
- God is a God of Redemption – Ephesians 1:7
- God invites us to bring Him our pain, sin, and shame – 1 Peter 5:6-7
- Jesus is the hero of our story – John 16:33
The Redeemed was founded on the belief that everyone’s faith walk can benefit from a supportive community. For men, especially, cultural expectations of independence and leadership can make us feel we shouldn’t share our troubles and work with others. Wisdom from the book of Ecclesiastes says otherwise: “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken,” (4:12).
When we look to biblical models of the faith like David, Paul, and—of course—Jesus, a clear pattern reveals itself. God’s Word moves through relationships.
For David, there’s perhaps no better example of supportive friendship than Jonathan, son of King Saul. The Bible tells us that Jonathan “loved [David] as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1). And when his father planned to murder David in jealousy, Jonathan faithfully warned his friend (1 Samuel 19-20). God planned for David to become king, so in a time of great danger, God provided Jonathan to be a faithful support.
Paul’s many letters to the early church are filled with references to his network of fellow believers. In the conclusion of 1 Corinthians we read about the ministry coming from the house of Stephanus (16:15) and hearty greetings from Aquila and Prisca (also called Priscilla in Acts). Behind the scenes of this prominent missionary a host of churches worked together to support their community, worship together, and spread the gospel. Without the countless members of these communities working together, the New Testament would end much sooner!
Upon rejecting the temptations in the desert, Jesus begins his ministry by calling disciples (Matthew 4: 18-22). Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we watch the disciples fall short again and again. They argue over who will be the greatest (Mark 9:33-34). They fall asleep after Jesus asks them to keep watch just before his arrest (Mark 14:34, 37). Despite this, Jesus saw value in ministering with disciples at His side. For us who might serve as both a disciple and a discipler, how much more does Jesus’ example recommend working well with others?
A recent guest on The Redeemed Man podcast, Jay Brown, brought some advice for making time to discuss important matters with friends and mentors: “If it’s important, we schedule it.” In a stressful season, we know God calls us to bring others in. From there, it’s a matter of prioritizing space to receive advice and encouragement.
When things start going downhill, there’s an interesting shift that can happen in our brains. Failures can make us call into question our identity, to the point where we start to identify with our shortcomings rather than looking to God for spiritual rest and redemption.
Identifying with our sin traps us in a cycle. Each mistake affirms a rotten identity, and the low bar set by our failures gives us permission to give up a little more. Thankfully, God offers us a way out of this cycle. as Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “In him we have redemption sthrough his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” (1:7).
God redeems our failures
For biblical examples, we can look at many Fathers of the Faith. Jacob’s first notable act (outside of being born gripping his brother’s hell) was to deceive his father Isaac in order to receive a larger inheritance (Genesis 27). Despite this, God blesses Jacob (Gen. 32: 28-29) and remains with him throughout the rest of his life.
Our capacity for failure might be deep, but God’s desire for reconciliation runs deeper. As podcast guest David Petty says about his own struggles in the wake of divorce, “God is a God of redemption and restoration. And God uses heartache, disappointment, and suffering—not only to draw us back to Himself, but also to do a great work within us.”
Since Adam and Eve first hid in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8), mankind has been falling for lies. God won’t love you in your sin. He doesn’t care about your pain. Make no mistake: these are lies. From the beginning, God has invited us into a relationship with Him—all of us.
In 1 Peter 5: 6-7 we read, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” Peter addressed this letter to exiled believers, certainly people in personal and even spiritual crisis. Rather than toughening up, Peter advises honesty and surrender.
The Psalms of lament provide another example of spiritual rest in the midst of distress. Take Psalm 6, written by David and titled “O Lord, Deliver My Life.” He writes:
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is greatly troubled.
But you, O Lord—how long? (v. 2-3)
If such a revered father of the faith can speak so boldly to God, what’s stopping us?
Barnabas Piper shared about his own journey to surrender and trust on The Redeemed Man Podcast. Growing up the son of a pastor, Barnabas had a wonderful role model in his life. Despite that upbringing, Barnabas found himself facing a crisis of identity and faith in his mid-20s. Ultimately, that crisis led to divorce, but the spiritual renewal he experienced taught him a lot about being a better husband, father, and disciple. Voicing his sin and pain to God was a crucial part of his transformation.
This final truth is the most important of all. When we’re feeling rundown, keeping sight of Jesus’ victory allows us to face our lives in God’s strength rather than our own. Only when we entrust our work to God can we find spiritual rest in Him.
This truth is so central that Jesus reminds his inner circle of it the night of His crucifixion: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; l have overcome the world,” (John 16:33).
Jesus’ victory changes everything. Where once our pain and sin condemned us to stagnation and death, our relationship with Jesus offers peace, companionship, and forgiveness. Plus, when we give proper credit to Jesus, we can set our spirit at rest. He has set us new standards.
As The Redeemed Man guest Jake Lockert reminded us, “Jesus is at work in our redemption. He’s the starting point, he’s the power through the process, and he’s the outcome of our redemption. It’s not us…Our redemption is all about Jesus.” It seems strange, but our lives are best lived when we stop considering ourselves the main character.
Conclusion
In a busy season, it’s even more important to have our priorities settled. Faithfulness in day-to-day work and relationships becomes even more meaningful. And, while we may not always have the imagination to see it, spiritual rest can happen in the midst of chaos. When God’s peace meets us, our perspective changes—even if our circumstances don’t.
For help grounding your perception in God’s reality, we suggest looking to your community. That might be a pastor, mentor, friend, or even a group.
Each week, The Redeemed small groups give men like you a chance to seek God together. We also find inspiration each week in guests like David, Barnabas, and Jake on The Redeemed Man podcast. Join The Redeemed community, and you’ll find yourself among a diverse group of men with a shared passion for living each day as one of God’s redeemed.
Connect with The Redeemed Community
If you’re inspired to explore the transformative power of spiritual freedom and would like to journey alongside like-minded believers, consider joining one of The Redeemed’s small groups. Whether you prefer meeting in person or connecting online, our community is here to support and grow with you. Join us and discover how surrendering together can lead us into greater freedom.
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