Abundance Always Precedes Rest

By Natasha Tubbs

“Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.”

-Exodus 16:26 ESV

Abundance always precedes rest.

When I think back on previous seasons in my life, one theme consistently stands out; before the Lord leads us into a season of rest, His abundance of provision always precedes it.

In Exodus 16, as the Israelites journey from slavery to freedom, they experience release from a state contrary to God’s plan. Yet, their ingratitude is evident throughout Exodus. Immediately after leaving slavery, they start complaining, lamenting in verse 3, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt…” Despite God’s provision, they fail to recognize Him as their Provider. The Israelites were accustomed to scarcity, preferring slavery versus relying on the One who provided for them. This shift challenged them to trust God as their ultimate Source, including for rest.

As they transitioned from being slaves to becoming sons, their entire thought process and belief system had to change. They could not live in the mindset of struggle, and worship the God who provides. The Good News is that God was not requiring them to do that on their own. Because before God leads us into His rest, He provides all that we need to dwell there. 

God is a good and faithful God. He never leads us into any season without providing us with what we need to dwell there.

A great indicator of a new season approaching, is recognizing the abundance of provision that God begins to fill our lives with. 

Of course, that provision doesn’t always look the way that we expect. An abundance of provision can come in the form of relationships, favor, and health, among other things. 

However, if we are honest, most of the time, before that transition into a new season takes place, like the Israelites, we despise the way that God is choosing to provide that abundance. We grumble and complain when the abundance doesn’t show up where or how we plan. In many ways, we place an expectation on God to provide in the ways we plan. Thankfully, our God isn’t fragile or fickle. He doesn’t provide according to our desires, but according to the plans He has for us. 

In Jeremiah 29:11, a well-known verse, God assures His people of His benevolent plans for them. What is often missed in context is that God wasn’t simply focusing on His people to get what they wanted most. He was revealing who He was, is, and will forever be in the lives of His people.

Friends, God is more than a mere restorer. While we often associate abundance with finances, His intentions go beyond material possessions. He desires to restore us to our true identity, to be whole in Him. He does indeed restore our possessions because of His goodness, but more importantly, He restores us to Himself because He is God! 

One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is John 15. It reminds me of what God’s plans are for me, to abide in Him as He abides in me (John 15:4). This chapter reminds me that the greatest abundance I could ever have is God Himself. 

This is what He was building in the people of Israel! He was building Himself in them. He did not just want to transition them out of slavery, but into resting in Him being their source.

You may not feel like rest is near. You may not even know what it feels like to live in the rest that only comes from abiding in the Father. You may not be able to imagine what it looks like to experience abundance or rest. But I want to encourage you that your rest is near because the Father is! But like the people of Israel, it will require something of you . . .

To embrace a season of rest, you must receive it with faith and open hands, letting the Father provide what you truly need rather than what you’re accustomed to.

Ultimately, you must allow His abundant provision to be sufficient, overcoming the scarcity mindset of past or present seasons. 

Only by doing so can we receive His abundant provision and enter into His perfect rest.

Natasha resides, works, and educates in the beautiful state of North Carolina. Her passion lies in inviting others into a harmonious relationship with the Creator of the universe. As a doctoral candidate, adjunct professor, and published author, she strives to inspire others toward spiritual depth and growth. In her free time, she loves to read as well as to gather and feast at her table with her family and friends. Blog: sabbathandshalom.com Instagram: natasha.tubbs