Do you ever get tired of taking the same sins to God over and over, asking for his forgiveness and his help, and then failing once again? I sure do, and so I read God’s promise of rest in the book of Hebrews with hope and longing. The writer puts his finger on the origin of Israel’s chronic problem with disobedience, and I think we can all identify with it:
It all begins with unbelief.
I fail to believe that God will protect or provide, and so I worry.
I don’t think he is moving things along as quickly as I’d like, so I shift into manipulation mode.
Every sin we commit can be traced back to a failure to believe God’s promises or to trust in his faithfulness.
The good news is found in Hebrews 4:3: “We who have believed enter that rest.” The book establishes a cadence that defines the rhythm of the “normal” and healthy Christian life:
Today, today, today, today, today.
Five times the author uses the word.
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 4:7, 15)
“Exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today…” (Hebrews 3:13)
Repent.
Believe.
Start again today.
This is what “new morning mercies” look like.
Begin fresh.
When the wheels come off, repeat.
Again.
Repent.
Believe.
This is the message for the believer and for the unbeliever!
Keep entering his rest.
The following life requires faith in the present moment. We cannot rely on some historical faith any more than we would trust last year’s weather forecast for tomorrow’s picnic.
This is the “striving” mentioned in Hebrews 4:11—”Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” Paradoxically, our rest from sin is also a striving toward holiness. We work toward holiness as we “consider Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1) and as we move to the rhythm of daily repentance and belief.
Sin is exhausting.
In Christ, we have the hope of entering his rest.
The following life requires faith in the present moment. We cannot rely on some historical faith any more than we would trust last year’s weather forecast for tomorrow’s picnic.
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In 2026, I want to be more present— wherever I am. When I am with the people I love, I want to be all there. I need to fully inhabit the time and space God has ordained for me to inhabit, to stay present to the emotions that come and the season I’m living through.
I’ll be writing one post every month on the theme. To find them all, CLICK HERE.
Holding You in the Light,
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This seven-day devotional plan affirms that perseverance is so much more than simply hanging on. Those who follow Jesus Christ are familiar with the dogged patience of waiting, because we have read the words of Scripture about eternal rewards for those who endure. So we persevere—sometimes just because God has commanded us to. When the newness wears off, when we don’t feel like it, when everything just feels too hard, we press on, and we press in to Christ. He is the prize.
As you know, I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path. At Living Our Days, I provide biblical content and resources to encourage biblical literacy and faithful living, and now I’m sharing devotional content on the YouVersion app. Visit my profile page to get free access to all the reading plans!
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