There is a rest I cannot live without. It’s not the kind of rest that sleep brings, nor the relief of a cancelled meeting or a weekend away. No, this rest is holy. It is soul-deep stillness, the peace of being known, forgiven, and held in the presence of the living God. And the thought of losing it… terrifies me.
Hebrews 3:9–11 rings loud in my spirit:
“They shall never enter My rest…”
These are not just words of judgment. They are words laced with divine sorrow. The Israelites, God’s chosen people, had seen His wonders. They walked through the sea on dry ground. They tasted bread from heaven and drank water that flowed from rocks. Yet their hearts grew calloused. They rebelled. They tested God. And in response, He drew a line. A terrifying line.
“So, I declared on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” (Hebrews 3:11, quoting Psalm 95:11)
It wasn’t just about disobedience. It was about disbelief. The kind that sneaks in when we stop trusting God’s goodness and start leaning on our own understanding. And it can happen to any of us. It happened to me.
I know the peace of His nearness, the warmth of worship, the clarity of His voice, the joy that bubbles up for no earthly reason. But I’ve also wandered. I’ve sinned. I’ve numbed myself with distractions, entertained thoughts I should have silenced, and quieted convictions that once roared.
And I know the consequence.
Restlessness. Sleeplessness. Guilt. That gnawing ache that says, “You’re not where you’re supposed to be.”
Because sin hardens. It calcifies the heart. Slowly. Silently. Until your prayer life fades. Worship feels foreign. Scripture no longer pierces. And the very presence that once felt like home becomes a memory that haunts.
But here is the mercy:
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:7)
There is still a today. There is still a way back.
Jesus came for the hard-hearted, the wanderers, the prodigals and the weary. The warning is severe, but so is the grace. The rest of God isn’t just a destination—it’s a Person. Christ Himself.
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
The veil is torn. The invitation still stands.
If you feel far from God today, hear this: You are not out for good. The enemy lies. But Truth calls louder: Come home.
I am walking that way again, limping, yes. Weeping, yes. But walking toward mercy. Toward rest.
He still wants me, He still wants you. Return. Rest. (VICKY LUDICK)
Meet Matt & Vicky Ludick
A Life of Grace, Calling, and Togetherness. We have been in ministry for what feels like forever—and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Matt grew up in the church, baptized in the Holy Spirit from a young age.
His life has been one long pursuit of God’s presence. If I had to write all there is to say about Matt, I’d need a book—not a blog post. He’s an all-rounder, a servant-hearted man with an anointing on his life. He loves sport (all sport!), he cooks dinner almost every evening, and he is the devoted father of our seven children. But more than anything, Matt loves Jesus. He walks and talks Jesus. His worship, especially with a guitar in hand, is where heaven meets earth. As for me, I was a late bloomer.
I completed my Law degree in 2008 and worked in the secular world for some time. But deep down, I knew I was being prepared for something greater.
I spent eight transformative years in a Missional Church, where God stretched me, shaped me, and planted a love for the nations in my heart. During that time, I adopted Cindy, my brave and beautiful “firstborn.” In March this year, I completed my Bachelor’s in Theology, finally walking through a door God had been preparing me for all along.
In 2018, Matt and I planted Grace Family Church, a church full of life, learning, and love. Our people are celebrators of life and passionate students of the Word.
What a joy it is to walk alongside them! We also oversee a small but growing missions department, and my dream, when the time is right, is to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.Together, we run Elevate, a business built on the belief that anything is possible and that people are meant to rise.
We dream big because we serve a big God. And in the midst of all the ministry and mission, God surprised us with twins! Now, with seven children and a future open to His will, we remain anchored in this truth: by His grace, together, we can do anything!
Contact us:
Tel 061 250348, Cell: 0816559557
E-mail: Vicky@elevatenamibia.com, Matt@elevatenamibia.com.
Address: Nickel str. Prosperita, Windhoek, Namibia. Follow us on Facebook.