Faith Structures Hope and Hope Compels Work(s)!

Psalm 90:12 says that when you ask God, He will “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom”. Pleasing God doesn't come from a works mentality. It comes from a Christian who makes cognitively consistent decisions which structures the hope you have in God by directing your actions (Ephesians 2:8-10). Jesus said the work of faith is to believe the truth about God and to trust Him, without giving in to fear or doubt that leads back into old/comfortable culturally learned habits (John 6:29, John 17:14-17, 17:3, Hebrews 6:19, 3:19). Knowing God is with you calms your soul - your thoughts, mindset, will and emotions (Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 4:9-11, Philippians 4:6-7) and it's from this belief that you structure your hope within the boundaries of God's character and walk with Godly wisdom, peace and confidence (Vos, B. (2012), Romans 5:4-5, Hebrews 11:1, 2 Peter 1:5-9, 1 Corinthians 2:5).​ 

 

The more you trust God and follow His Holy Word, the more you’ll discern circumstances using His truth and you'll gain the perspective you need to overcome your dark human emotions that are tempting you to stay at the bottom of the hole, held prisoner by worry, fear, anger and/or despondency (Ephesians 4:31-32, John 14:5-7). Jesus said; “My Father is always at his work,” which means that you can stay grounded by hope in God as you experience life's up's and down's (John 5:17, Romans 8:28, Hebrews 6:18-19). ​It’s your faith in and your understanding of Christ’s finished work, not your own works, that propels your hope (stage 1) to wisdom (stage 8) on Erickson’s developmental chart (Ephesians 2:8-20). Making the effort to lift your hand out in hope to reach for God invites Him to step into your life (spiritual justification), as exemplified by the thief on the cross at the crucifixion of Jesus (Matthew 27:38, Luke 23:39-43). When you understand God's Holy nature, you become aware that reaching out to Him is only the beginning of the relationship. God wants you to restructure your life by following His ways (become sanctified physically) so you can break through your relative reality and show the world the hope you found in Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 12:29, Acts 1:8, 1 Timothy 2:5, Matthew 28:19, https://www.gotquestions.org/is-the-Holy-Spirit-God.html). 

 

Don’t let fear or pride prevent you from learning more about a secure relationship with and sustained by God's faithfulness (2 Timothy 2:10-13, Isaiah 12:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 3:17, Daniel 2:21-22). In choosing to honor God, you'll bend your will to do His will (Romans 8:6-8). When you choose to align your conduct with God's definition of Holy Love, you’ll avoid the holes in your sidewalk (1 Peter 4:8, Romans 6:12-14, 1 Corinthians 13:4). God supplies a map to this wholesome life, but it's up to you to choose to follow the directions (Jeremiah 31: 31-34, 25, 1 Peter 5:10, Deuteronomy 30:3, Psalm 51:12, 23:3, James 1:5).

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It's the humility of your faith that empowers hope and hope is expressed by consistent, persistence, and enthusiastic good works aimed at helping your neighbor (1 Peter 3:15-17, Romans 12:10-14, Hebrews 10:35-36, 23-25, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Isaiah 40:29, Philippians 4:13). Structuring your hope within the boundaries of Holy Love is what the Apostle John called the full life and Isaiah the Prophet saw as eternal excellence (John 10:10, Isaiah 60:15, Matthew 11:28-29). When you choose to implement holy, righteous actions, you have experienced an understanding of God's transformative grace (Hebrews 13:16, 10:38, Micah 6:8).

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By taking God's hand, you find a lifeline. Following the map and climbing up the hole is your faith work. As you journey back up the hole with God, you learn more about Him and this builds your spiritual muscle (2 Corinthians 10:4-6, 1 Timothy 4:7-8, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Ephesians 6:10-18). Deciding to take a new route (applying yesterday's lessons to tomorrow) proves your trust and rest is in Christ. You learn to live life joyfully, free from shame and paralyzing guilt so you gain a new perspective of not just God, but yourself too (Hebrews 10:22-23). Your positive sense of self (because you found your identity hidden in Christ) pulls you through these growth stages with resiliency. God dependency, not self-reliance, results in a mature, tenacious, and a responsible person capable of forming intimate relationships with others (Vogel-Scibilia, S. E., McNulty, K. C., Baxter, B., Miller, S., Dine, M., & Frese, F. J. (2009), Colossians 3:3). 

• Read more on about choosing to honor God above yourself @ https://courageforlife.org/blog/how-to-be-god-reliant-instead-of-self-reliant/ 

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​Rest Begins in the Heart

When your hope is based on Christ's perfect sacrifice, not your efforts or desires, your perception shifts. This relaxes your attitude so your "works" flow from your heart giving you an attitude of mercy. Jesus used an example of this in Matthew 12:1-9, and concluded with His point, “But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.” Or this quote in Mark 2:27-28, when Jesus expresses the idea of this concept to his disciples, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!" Jesus shows what heart obedience to God looks like (John 14:6, John 10:9, John 5:30, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Matthew 7:20-21, 7:24-27, Philippians 2:5, 1 John 2:6). ​

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​Heart obedience is born out of an intimate relationship. Jesus prayed often and obeyed all of God's instruction, even when it was uncomfortable. Communication and vulnerability are needed to establish intimacy and trust. It's through accepting and knowing that God is, that He is good and that He loves you, that you will make this shift in your perspective so you are motivated, A, to trust the Holy Spirit, D, and take the necessary actions, B, that lead to the desired outcomes, C   (Psalm 136:1, 1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13:8, 13, Romans 5:8, Appendix 1M). ​Trusting in God's character integrity shows your faithfulness (Proverbs 3:3-5, 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Psalm 28:7, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 1:20). Pride and vulnerability are at opposite ends of the interpersonal spectrum. Pride blinds unbelievers to God's mercy which blocks His grace from working in your life (Galatians 1:10, John 5:44, Romans 1:18-23, 6:1-3, Jude 1:4). Humble obedience to God, while at times unnerving, produces the results of faith.

• Read the Bible book of Ester as it reveals a contrast between the actions that stem from a humble and patient attitude (Ester) with those that come from a proud and hasty one (Mordecai).

 

Gratitude and intimacy develop from a humble and vulnerable heart. When you are at the bottom of the hole and you realize that on your own you can’t get up or avoid the hole next time, your thought to call on God enters into your consciousness, but to connect to Him, you must reach out your hand (A - an an attitude of humility and B - an act of trust). Your Christian hope reaches out in anticipation of help and and decides to trust God, as evidenced by your outstretched arm and your willingness to follow where he leads you. From this experience, you learn that following the instructions of God (though sometimes perplexing) results in fulfillment (Hebrews 11:1). When you cling to God’s instructions, hope in God does not disappoint (Romans 5:5, 2 Peter 1:5-9, Exodus 33:14, Jeremiah 6:16). ​If it does, check your pride for a works mentality.​

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The Active Ingredient in Rest is Trust 

In the Bible book of Jeremiah, 17:7-8, a prophet of God describes the wisdom of trusting God like this: 

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

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Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still". This phrase is followed by "and know that I am God.” To be still means to not worry or act out of anxiety, to not let fear cause you to act irrationally with anger or non-action because your fears are calmed when you know God and honor Him. It means to not let pride stir you up and lead you up to act impulsively from self-driven motives. Trusting God prompts the action that shows your belief in God (Isaiah 26:3, Luke 22:42, Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 10:4). God’s peace doesn’t depend on comfort or control, it depends on being mindful of faith. When you are mindful of God, you create a funnel for your thoughts that directs you towards faith-filled steps in keeping with your Christianity.  

• See the 6-minute video by Jim Murrell entitled, “Peace in the middle of Choas?” for more on using your faith to remain calm.  

Resting in Christ* is a progressive journey of learning from experiences so you can grow throughout life (1 Peter 1:15-16, Titus 2:12, John 4:24, Luke 6:46, Appendix 2R). By establishing a relationship with God through prayer and trust, you'll ShinE   in both good and hard times (Psalm 46:10, Ecclesiastes 3:7, Isaiah 30:15, Habakkuk 2:20, James 1:19, 1 Kings 19:11-12). ​​​​​​Learning to use your faith means that you need to practice trusting in Jesus, God’s remedy for your sin. In doing that,​​​​​​ you learn to focus - to narrow down distractions and doubts and instead keep your eyes on focused on your trust in Christ’s finished work (1 Peter 2:24, John 19:30, 17:4, 1 John 2:2). Because of your declared and heartfelt trust in Christ (God - the Son), you became acceptable to God - the Father (Romans 10:9-11, Luke 9:62, Philippians 3:13-14, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11). Once you show that you trust Christ as the way to God in heaven, you follow His truth as you live your life guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:6). Trusting in Christ means to believe in the Triune God and persist through trials, or what Erickson labeled as psychological crises, because of the confidence you have in the Holy Spirit working through you (Romans 15:13, Ephesians 3:16-19, 1:19-20, Acts 1:8). Once you master trust, you see clearly God’s Holiness (His ways are better than ours), Sovereignty (God controls and knows everything) and Universality (available supply of mercy & grace for all who seek it). The virtue of faith is the realization you can depend on the loving Christian God to be for you and with you so you can rest comfortably in His Sovereignty (Job 37:2-3). 

• *When you are in Christ you can find complete rest from the labors of self-effort, because He alone is Holy and Righteous. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

• Read article in full @ https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Sabbath.html.

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The Bible records God as answering the common “Why me?” question after troubles overtook Job and his household. God answered Job in 40:8; with a merciful, not angry, attitude. God asked questions of Job until Job understood that his own perspective is always subject to God. The more you learn, respect and act by remembering the position of God in life, the more your wisdom will turn into insight, the natural last stage of development for a Christian. Man’s insight is based on this correct positioning (God is above not next to you). How do you answer the question in Job 40:8, “Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right"? Or do you prove that the use of Godly wisdom leads to your insight?

• Job, a faithful believer and follower of God, found that trust is essential for Godly wisdom, but that Godly wisdom is contingent on a belief in His sovereignty (Job 12:16, Job 12:7-25). This lead him to the same conclusion as King Solomon; The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding (Job 28:28, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

 

When you include Godly faith into each developmental step in Erickson's chart, your progressive wisdom grows into a final stage which creates ever-increasing insight and this sustains you through the challenges you face as a "senior citizen". Faith is a virtue that grows into maturity with you. You move through life by applying God's truth (your new normal perspective) to your experiences, regardless of what you think you know about life (because

faith build your identity so you can rest in Christ’s identity in you). Insight reveals your secondary position in relation to God's truth. It's then you realize that it’s His mercy that makes it possible for you to obtain the gift of the Holy Spirit, but it's through your reliance on and use of His ongoing grace, the Holy Spirit in you, that you can remain at peace through troubling times (Romans 6:14, 11, 6, Ephesians 2:8-10,1 Peter 2:12-15, 21-23, 3:15). ​​​

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An Example of Decision-Making from an Economic Perspective

Decisions that you make come from your faith in the outcome. For example, in Christianity, your perception shifts when you see Christ as Lord, not just Savior and this is what stimulates you to change how you view the word "rest", “work” and “believe” and "costs". Using money as an example, a corresponding phrase most people will say is, "I can see your values by what you do with your money". In a sense, it gives you boundaries to your own rationality, a term made popular by researcher Herbert Simon, winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1978 for his work on decision-making (Simon, H. A. (1972)). 

 

Simon theorizes that if you only have $100 dollars to spend and if that money is needed to pay bills, you won’t spend the money frivolously today, but will save it for what is necessary. Through time and testing, this widely accepted theory on human behavior is proof that rational behavior is bounded. To have decisions bounded by rationality means that you use certain morale standards, values, or societal norms to restrict your actions. For example, take the sustainability of the unbounded financial practice of deficit spending. Most people choose to avoid the consequences of deficit spending because they learned that the long-term cost isn't worth spending on the short-term pleasure. Instead of spending money that isn't yet available, the typical choice is made to forego the desire/decision to buy. When you allow feedback to inform your future decisions, your awareness grows and your insight deepens so you make better choices moving forward, without distress.

 

When you rationalize consequences in the decision-making process, you lose your ability to adjust to the truth and are caught in your relative reality cycle. When you continue with the deficit spending example, you can see how the attitude can form and taint forth-coming decisions. An entitlement attitude stems from an unwillingness to tame desires to stay within the normative boundaries of society. When not corrected with feedback from experience, it limits every forth-coming choice, adding to a person’s relative reality (Evans, 2014). Researchers debate about the rational ability to generate and make choices, but one researcher honed in on the normative value of decisions. Researcher Jonathon Evans says that the term often applied to a person's mis-informed decision is "irrationality" (2014). He contends that this word - irrational - is subjective because it comes from the judgement of another’s behavior (a perception by the onlooker), according to his/her own opinion, without considering the available options the person considered in their decision-making, however unconventional it may appear to you. (Judging the person leaves you merciless, insensitive, and open to all types of biases that are not long-term solutions for maintaining healthy, respectful relationships. When your goal is to create a new normal lifestyle by honoring God, you’ll learn to personalize your faith, encouraging love and acceptance rather than judgement, making God visible through you (Colossians 1:15, Psalm 62:1-2, 5-6, Matthew 11:29-30, Hebrews 4:9-10).

• Read more @ https://www.gotquestions.org/do-not-judge.html.

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The correlation to Simon's theory of bounded rationality appears when you use trust as representing your purchasing cost and when you see the product that you buy as the cost for your belief (faith takes action on your belief, Hebrews 11:1, Appendix 1A). When you let God's Word stand as it is, Truth, and follow the corresponding

instructions unaltered, you'll know how to use your faith and be able to show that your rationality stems from God.

​Until the Apostle Paul had an experience that changed his perspective of Christianity, Paul was considered irrational by those who believed in Jesus. Once he converted to Christianity, he gave up his incorrect belief and made an intentional decision to accept this label given to him by non-believers, a cost of following Jesus (Acts 26:25). He explains his change of thinking like this in 2 Corinthians 5:14,

"Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them." 

 

As an Old Testament scholar, he was familiar with the scripture in Nehemiah 8:10, but after he changed his beliefs to match the Truth of God, Saul transformed into the Apostle Paul once he adjusted his perspective. He showed both a joyful attitude along with actions consistent with his Christian beliefs, despite the majority of people failing to change their relative reality when the Truth was presented to them (demonstrating belief). You gain glory for God and you earn a public reputation as a Christian with integrity when you allow God's truth to sway you away from popular opinions and behavior (although non-Christians may label you as peculiar). When you learn to do this consistently, you will replace your distress with rest and find peace (2 Chronicles 16:9, Psalm 4:1, 4-5). 

• ​Read the account of the Apostle Paul’s conversion experience from one of a self-righteous Pharisee to a Christian in Acts 23:6, 22:1-22, 23:6, 26:12-18, Galatians 1:11-24, Philippians 3:4-11, 1 Corinthians 15:8-10, 1 Timothy 1:12-16, 2 Corinthians 4:6.

  • Note how the Apostle Paul flexed his communication style, corrected his relative reality and was able to rest in the truth of Jesus Christ as he recounted his story to a variety of audiences.    

 

In Christianity, your passion to own something can be liked to a Spiritual transaction with God; your soul's relative reality traded for a full, confident, and restful life today because of your choice to remain in Christ (Mark 8:36, Luke 9:24, 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Romans 12:1, John 10:10, Revelation 14:13, John 12:25, 14:3, Philippians 3:20). A new identity in Christ replaces a fragile and unstable self-esteem and unlocks your potential. Applying the bounded rationality concept to making a heartfelt decision to believe God, you'd choose to act out what you believe according to your the value you place on maintaining the relationship (Matthew 13:43-44). It's takes a span of time, a progressive journey of learning and doing, that matures you to become the person you are capable of becoming, "in Christ" (Ephesians 4:14-15, 17-24, 27, 30, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 2 Chronicles 16:9). Your association with God propels you forward to a new normal (Isaiah 43:18-19, Matthew 6:34, Romans 8:1, Ephesians 4:22-24, Philippians 3:13-14). When passion collides with purpose, rather than impulses and fears controlling you, you walk swiftly, courageously and with joyful intention towards goal fulfillment (Joshua 1:8-9, 1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 18:39, Snyder, C. R., Feldman, D. B., Shorey, H. S., & Rand, K. L. (2002))! ​

• Explore how perceptional changes affect how you walk in Appendix 1G and Appendix 1L. 

• More on choosing to act with restraint to balance your self-love within the boundaries of Holy Love, authored by God and modeled by Jesus Christ in Appendix 2H.

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A Rational Analysis of the Supernatural Work of God Through You​

Consider the Supernatural work of God in light of the dark hole view: As you grabbed God's hand to escort you out of the hole, you learned His character and decided to trust His ways as you traveled. Because of your unique and progressive experiences of testing and proving God's Word, you were willing to adopt His boundaries into your moral code of conduct. Each time you acted on your decision to walk in the way of the Christian faith, you found renewed strength to persist, not running, but leisurely walking past each obstacle (Luke 1:46-47, Psalm 16:11, Appendix 1N). Thus, the definition of faith proves itself, not before, but after you make the decision to turn your hope and trust over to God.

 

Jesus states, "Wisdom is shown to be right by its results" (Luke 7:35). Decisions can fall prey to your subjective relative reality because they are bounded by your own logic, based on what truth you accept or reject as influenced by your faith and your own experience with it. Proverbs 17:3 says the Lord tests hearts (Malachi 3:10). Judgement is natural to the efficiency of processing information, but it is not a wise practice when applied to people. Jesus points out that it's hypocritical to judge someone else’s decision-making process (Matthew 7:1-3). Doing so can be seen as your irrationality because you aren’t privy to how the person's unique experiences intertwine with their thought process to produce their decisions. It seems rational to say that as a wise Christian, you develop insight by using your imagination to apply Christian principles to your everyday problem-solving rather than spending time judging your neighbor (Proverbs 9:10, James 1:2-3, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Acts 17:11, Colossians 2:8, 1 Peter 4:12, Psalm 26:2).

• Review Appendix 2E and Appendix 2J on different applications of personality development before answering the following questions:​

 

Will you yield to the Holy Spirit and take God's route (referred to by Freud as the "superego")

by making intentional faith-based decisions and voluntarily self-control?

or 

Will you let your "id" persuade you to deny the truth of God for the sake of your self-concept/image? (Feeling/being seen as in control and doing whatever you want but still feeling guilt, shame and fear while experiencing the negative, natural consequences of excess.)

 

The result of a yes answer to the first question is seen by your active rest, whereas the result of the second produces anxiety expressed in either paralyzing or extreme behavior (Appendix 2E, Appendix 2F). There’s a feeling of peace that settles in when you finally decided to forgo your independent decision-making and, instead, turn to and trust God to guide you into doing the right thing in His eyes (Judges 21:25). Psychology researchers Mahmooda Fatima, Sadia Niazi, & Saba Ghayas  (2017, p 15) report that "social connectedness is positively linked with self-esteem and negatively related to social anxiety". ​​​Then the sayings, “God’s got this!” and “Turn the other check” will no longer be religious clichés, but will reflect a personal relationship with the Christian God.​

• Read Appendix 1I along with Appendix 2O to explore the relationship between independence and humility.

• The authors, Tugade MM & Fredrickson BL., (2004), found that resilient individuals use positive emotions to rebound from and find positive meaning in stressful encounters. Read more @ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14769087/.  

• Read more about breaking habits to change your results in a devotion by Pastor Craig Groeschel @ https://faithgateway.com/blogs/christian-books/you-reap-what-you-sow.

• For a secular look at topics that stem from insecurity read articles from PSYCHOLOGS, INDIAS FIRST MENTAL HEALTH MAGAZINE.  

• Read more about how your understanding of prayer can ease your anxiety @  https://www.gotquestions.org/does-God-answer-prayers.html 

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Your Loyalty to and From the God of Love Matures You

God in the Old Testament is the same God as in the New Testament (Hebrews 13:8).​  Below are just a few examples from people in the Bible who acted on the truth s/he believed about God, despite the daily circumstances of life.​ King David says this in Psalm 18:30; "This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him". King David’s positive expectations of God pulled him towards taking the right action while he moved through life, despite the decade spent waiting for the fulfillment of the promise he received from Samuel, the prophet of God, to take over as King of Israel (1 Samuel 16:10-13, Psalm 101, 2 Samuel 5:4). Like Abraham, David clung to God without feeling as if he needed to be "perfect". Despite the fact that Saul turned on David - treating him like an enemy, David honored Saul and did not waiver in his commitment to God's principles but endured many years of actively waiting (doing the right thing, even when suffering) until the official announcement was made regarding His promotion to King (Psalm 73:26, 1 John 1:9, Titus 3:5, Laminations 3:22-23, Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 10:24, 6:18, 11:11, Romans 4). It seems as though David learned from Abraham (the story that was passed down regarding Abraham's sons) that he needed to wait for God's timing (Abraham waited 25 years for his son Issacc; David waited 15 years for His first promotion to King of Judah).

 

While David, a Jew, shows us an example of endurance while actively waiting on God, the Gentile prostitute (Gentile was a name given to a group of non-Jewish people), Rehab, shows us what it is like to get a revelation from God that changed the trajectory of her life (Galatians 1:11, 12, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25,

https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Rahab.html). Rehab was a prostitute who had heard about the Israelite God, unlike David who already had established a relationship with God. It wasn't until she was given a chance to make a decision that she revealed what it was that her heart believed. Rehab choose to protect God's people rather than help her own statesmen. This choice began a new route, a new “sidewalk” for Rehab to walk down as she continued her journey through life. She choose God as the one to follow and, as a consequence of that decision, she left her country and joined a Christian community. Rehab went on to marry Salmon, of the Tribe of Judah, and was the mother of Boaz which put her in the ancestry of King David and Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

 

Matthew 15:21-28, below, describes another example of a Gentile woman who acted courageously and persistently because of her hope and belief that Christ could change her direction in life despite her Non-Jewish heritage:  

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.

 

Rest in Christ While Working to Fulfill your Hope

Knowledge of and respect for God aligns your expectations with the truth of God's Word to make all things possible and achievable in Christ - our "hiding place" (Psalm 91:1-2, 119:114, Wnuk, M. (2022)). When you accept and let God’s unconditional love fill you with a structured hope, you will bend your free will to do what is right in God’s eyes (1 Corinthians 13:7, Galatians 5:13, 1 Thessalonians 1:3, 5:19, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 6:11-12, Matthew 6:10, Proverbs 3:3-5). As you do, you learn to trust God which evaporates your human defense mechanisms and allows you to become dependent on Him because of love (Judges 21:25, Philippians 2:13, Job 42:2, Romans 9:19-24, 8:28, 2 Timothy 2:15, 20-22, Ephesians 6:4-6). As his relationship with Christ grew, the Apostle Paul learned to be content because he realized that, despite his many accomplishments, nothing is comparable to being unified with God. He discovered rest and fulfillment in dependency on the Holy Spirit (Luke 2:14, 11:13, 1 Corinthians 1:24, Ephesians 4:1-6, Colossians 1:28). ​​

• Read more @ https://www.gotquestions.org/rest-in-the-Lord.html