There is something universal and deeply human about the longing in that song. We see it in the sigh of the tired farmer as the sun sets behind the barn. We hear it in the prayers of mothers and fathers who work long hours to provide for their children. We feel it in our own hearts when we come home at the end of a long day, sit down in our favorite chair, and hope for just a moment of peace.
But the longing for rest is not just physical. The labor of our hands is matched by the burdens of our hearts. We carry worries for our families, anxieties about the future, regrets about the past, and fears about things we cannot control. Sometimes, the heaviest loads are the ones no one else can see.
Charles Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers,” understood this well. He once said:
“There is no rest for the soul of man apart from the rest which is found in Christ. The world may promise peace, but it cannot give it. The world may offer distraction, but it cannot offer true rest.”
Spurgeon knew that while we may long for a day off or a quiet evening, what we really crave is something deeper—a rest for our souls, a peace that passes understanding.
The Promise of Rest in God’s Word
Praise God, the Bible does not leave us in our weariness. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture speaks of a rest that is greater than anything this world can offer.
In the Old Testament, God established the Sabbath—a day of rest—for His people. It was a sign of His covenant, a reminder that He is the source of all blessing and that we are not slaves, but beloved children. Exodus 20:8-10 commands:
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work…”
The Sabbath was more than just a day off. It was a picture of the deeper rest God desires for us—a rest from striving, from anxiety, from the endless pursuit of satisfaction in things that cannot satisfy.
But even the Sabbath was just a shadow of what was to come. The true rest is found in Jesus Christ. Listen to His invitation in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
What a precious promise! Jesus knows our burdens. He sees our struggles. He does not turn us away or tell us to try harder. Instead, He invites us to come to Him—to lay down our burdens at His feet and find the rest our souls have been longing for.
Spurgeon on Resting in Christ
Charles Spurgeon preached often on this passage. He wrote:
“The rest which Christ gives is not a rest from work, but in work. It is not the rest of idleness, but of peace in the midst of service. It is the rest of knowing that our sins are forgiven, that our future is secure, and that our lives are in the hands of a loving Savior.”
For the Christian, rest is not just about stopping our labor, but about finding peace in the presence of God—even in the midst of our daily tasks. It is knowing that our worth is not measured by what we accomplish, but by what Christ has accomplished for us on the cross.
The Spiritual Implications of Our Labor
So what does this mean for us, here and now? It means that our daily work—whether in the field, the office, the home, or the church—has spiritual significance. The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 3:23-24:
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
Every chore, every task, every act of service can be an offering to God. When we work with integrity, when we care for our families, when we help a neighbor, we are serving the Lord. Our labor is not in vain, because it is done for Him.
But even as we work, we do not place our hope in our own efforts. We know that our true rest is found in Christ. We look forward to the day when He will return and make all things new—when the curse of sin will be lifted, and we will enter into the fullness of His rest.
The Hope of Heaven
The song “That Lucky Old Sun” ends with a prayer:
“Good Lord above, can’t you know I’m pining,
Tears all in my eyes?
Send down that cloud with a silver lining,
Lift me to Paradise!”
This is the cry of every believer—the longing for Paradise, for Heaven, for the place where “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
Heaven is not just a dream or a wish. It is the sure and certain hope of all who trust in Christ. Spurgeon said:
“To be with Christ is the sum of all happiness; to live in His love, to see His face, to share His joy—this is Heaven indeed. There we shall rest, not in idleness, but in the fullness of joy.”
Heaven is not an escape from reality, but the fulfillment of all God’s promises. It is the place where our deepest longings will be satisfied, where our greatest burdens will be lifted, where our restless hearts will finally be at home.
Living in the Light of Eternity
How should we live in light of this hope? First, we should persevere in our labor, knowing that it is not meaningless. Paul encourages us in 1 Corinthians 15:58:
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Second, we should encourage one another. Life is hard, and we all need reminders of God’s faithfulness. Hebrews 10:24-25 says:
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
We need the fellowship of the church—the prayers, the songs, the hugs, the shared meals, the laughter and the tears. In the body of Christ, we find strength for the journey and reminders of the hope that is ours.
Third, we should rest—truly rest—in the finished work of Christ. We do not have to earn God’s love. We do not have to prove ourselves. Jesus has done it all. As Spurgeon said:
“Rest, weary one, in the arms of Jesus. Trust Him with your cares, your fears, your failures. He is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him.”
Practical Encouragement for Every Day
Let me offer a few practical ways to live out these truths:
- Begin each day with prayer. Before you start your work, commit your day to the Lord. Ask Him for strength, wisdom, and grace.
- Take time for Sabbath rest. Set aside regular time to worship, to be with your family, to enjoy God’s creation, and to remember that your value is not in your productivity, but in your identity as a child of God.
- Serve others with joy. Look for ways to bless your neighbors, your church, and your community. Small acts of kindness can have eternal impact.
- Remind yourself of Heaven. When you are weary, remember the hope that is set before you. Read passages about Heaven. Sing songs of hope. Encourage one another with reminders of God’s promises.
- Trust in Christ’s sufficiency. When you feel like you cannot go on, remember that Jesus is enough. His grace is sufficient for you.
A Word to the Weary
Maybe you are here today, and you feel like the man in the song—tired, burdened, longing for rest. Maybe you are carrying a heavy load that no one else knows about. Maybe you wonder if anyone sees, if anyone cares.
I want you to know that God sees you. He knows your struggles. He cares about your pain. Psalm 34:18 says:
“The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
You are not alone. The same God who created the sun, who set it in the sky to “roll around Heaven all day,” is the God who loves you, who sent His Son to die for you, who promises to give you rest.
Spurgeon’s Counsel for the Journey
Let me close with a final word from Charles Spurgeon:
“Believer, let your hope be in God. The night may be dark, the road may be rough, but the morning will come. The Lord will not leave you comfortless. He will come to you, and He will bring you home.”
Conclusion & Scripture
As we journey through this life, let us labor faithfully, rest in Christ, encourage one another, and fix our eyes on the hope of Heaven. One day, our burdens will be lifted, our tears will be wiped away, and we will rest in the presence of our Savior forever.
Let us close with the words of the Psalmist:
Like (0)“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” (Psalm 23)
Amen.
