Rest in Him and Be at Peace
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Christmas time is a joyous time of year as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, but for many, that joy feels unreachable due to family problems, illnesses, loss of loved ones, loss of jobs, financial problems, addictions, homelessness and so much more. We wear ourselves out trying to do everything we can to manage it, fix it, and carry it, but in the end the weight of our problems and concerns become to much to handle. We become physically, mentally and spiritually drained.
We were not meant to handle everything alone nor to carry the weight of our problems by ourselves. The world tells us that we are to “do” something about it. It’s true, we must do what we can, BUT there comes a point we must turn the rest over to God and allow Him to work on our problem, our struggle, our difficulty. There comes a point we must realize not every battle is ours to battle though it’s facing us on a daily basis.
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” – Exodus 14:14
This can be difficult for many people to accept mainly out of fear of the “what ifs”. “What if something bad happens?” “What if God doesn’t answer my prayer or do anything?” “What if”. Fear and doubt is what prohibits us from fully trusting in God to work and therefore we continue wearing ourselves out with worry and trying to carry the weight of our problems and concerns on our own and eventually fall into anxiety and depression.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1
When we make the choice to trust in God to help carry our burdens and work in our life, we will begin to feel relief and peace even in our worst times. It doesn’t mean we won’t have any more problems, but it does mean we will trust that God will do what is best for our situation. Sometimes when we fail to see God work or answer prayers the way we want Him to, we tend to think He doesn’t care, He doesn’t hear our prayers, or maybe there is no God at all and we are just left to figure it out for ourselves. There are many who feel they are to far gone or have done so many bad things that God won’t help them or hear their prayers. This is furthest from the truth. We have to realize that God does not work on our time nor does He always answer prayers the way we want Him to because He knows what is best for us.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. – Isaiah 55:8
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Sometimes those problems and trials are what draw us closer to Him, causing us to humble ourselves and call out to Him for help.
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4
Our trials and problems also help us to spiritually grow so we will have patience and endure under pressures of every kind.
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James 1:2-4
When we keep our focus on God and put our trust in Him, we will have peace.
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3
You have a God who wants to help you and who sent His Son to save you. God wants no one to perish. He wants you saved.
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10
Let today be the day you stop bearing the weight of your fears and concerns alone and instead, give them over to Christ, leaving them at the cross. Then allow yourself to rest in Him trusting He will do what is best for you and your joy and peace will return.