Daily Devotions

Rest for the Righteous

“When peace comes, everyone who has lived honestly will rest on his own bed.”
— Isaiah 57:2 (CEV)

This verse offers a quiet but profound promise: the reward of peace and rest for those who have lived with integrity. Unlike the restless striving of the wicked (Isaiah 57:20), this rest is not merely physical—it is the deep peace of a life aligned with God.

This truth was discovered afresh by Charles Wesley. Though he had preached zealously and lived devoutly, he had not yet experienced peace with God. During a serious illness in his thirtieth year, he encountered the young Moravian missionary-in-training, Peter Bohler. When asked if he hoped to be saved, Charles replied, “Yes.”
“For what reason?” asked Bohler.
“Because I have used my best endeavours to serve God,” Charles replied.

Bohler shook his head—silently, but meaningfully. That shake shattered Wesley’s false assurance based on effort and good works. Through Bohler’s gentle instruction, Wesley came to understand that peace with God comes not through striving, but through faith in Jesus Christ. In that moment, Charles could say for the first time, “I now find myself at peace with God.” It was in this newfound peace that he wrote one of Methodism’s most beloved hymns:
“O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise…”

In our hurried world, this kind of peace remains elusive for many. As John Mark Comer writes in The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry:

“Ultimately, nothing in this life, apart from God, can satisfy our desires... The result? A chronic state of restlessness or, worse, angst, anger, anxiety, disillusionment... a life of more… which in turn makes us even more restless. And the cycle spirals out of control.”

True rest—real peace—isn’t found in doing more, buying more, or being more. It is found when we, like Charles Wesley, lay down our striving and trust wholly in God’s grace. It is found when we live honestly before God and others, and find our place, at last, in the rest He promises.

Prayer
Lord, I ask that You guide my heart and mind in my pursuit of living uprightly in Your sight. Help me, dear God, to examine my thoughts, my words, and my actions. May each be aligned with Your will, reflecting Your love and grace. As I navigate through the challenges of daily life, strengthen me to make choices that honour Your name and uphold the integrity of Your Word. And when my work is done, may I rest in peace—Your peace. Amen.