It's Okay to Rest when Weary

 

Recently I came across a post on Facebook where the character, Snoopy, is crying huge crocodile sized tears about something. The caption advices him, "You don't have to do it all today.  Just breathe.  That's enough."   The accompaning song to the post suggests that he does not have to fight and keep score.  He does not  have to  prove himself to other people.  He just needs to rest in the Lord. 

Whether you are grieving things that are going on in our nation or perhaps something more personal such as the death of a loved one; you can be assured the Jesus heals, and one day there will no longer be any tears. In the meantime we can and must rest in the Lord.  We need to rest in him physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Matthew 11:28-30 says: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. 

Let's heed to this command and invitation of our Lord Jesus to yoke ourselves to Him.  That is the only place where we will find rest and peace. 

Faith is Joy Even in the Midst of Heartaches

When our hearts are aching and circumstances around us are very difficult, is it possible to have joy?  For me personally, this past year or so has included some physical pain problems and also some heartbreaking situations involving loved ones of mine.   If we properly understand the concept of joy, however, it truly is possible to have joy no matter what is transpiring in our lives. We can experience joy in the midst of heartbreak and right along side emotional and physical pain.

I have been reading about joy in my devotions again this week.  That has been a huge blessing to me.  We need to remind ourselves that joy is not the same as happiness.  Happiness is based on perfect circumstances.  Joy is based on something much more profound.

Joy is only grounded in the Lord and not on our shifting and fickle emotions.  It is a gift of the Holy Spirit.  Yet we also need to be always pursuing it, because Satan's lies and our own emotions can so easily drag us down.  Personal heartaches and trials, loved one's illnesses and sorrows, and the conditions of the world around us can so easily discourage us.  We should feel sorrow and heartbreak over many things around us.  Yet our joy is found not in circumstances but in a Person, the Lord. Our joy is found in the character of the Lord.  He is always faithful and always loves His people with an eternal love.  He is also powerful to help us in our trials.

I remember in my younger years thinking that if I could just get through the next situation. then everything would be good. Yet my God was always faithful, and He was always present.  The Lord is the definition of joy.  I need to remind myself that He is also the definition of joy in current struggles. By faith in Jesus Christ we can experience joy despite the circumstances that we may be currently experiencing.

Peace in the Storms of Life

 

We have heard much in the news of late about devastating floods, massive fires, earthquakes, wars,  school shootings, and political shootings.  I don't know about you, but hearing about these events and knowing the turmoil these things are bringing in people's lives makes me sad.

Personal storms in our lives can do the same.  Sometimes they can make us feel very sad and discouraged. When feeling very troubled about something, I am often reminded through Scripture that I need to trust God in that situation.  I need to be quiet in that situation.  Isaiah 30:15b says, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength."  The feelings may not not all go away, but being reminded of this helps me immensely.   A song by Stephen Curtis Chapman also speaks about being quiet in the Lord.  The link to that song is below if you would like to hear it.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgaHaioAjyg

I remember the discouragement and sadness of seeing both my two husbands' bodies deteriorate step by step and the grief of losing them both to death. I also know the discouragement of bodily pain myself at times.  You may have similar feelings, dear Christian.  May the Scripture verse I quoted and song link about resting it with the Lord be a huge comfort to you.  God will always be faithful to you.

Another Scripture passage which is a huge comfort to me is found in the early verses of Isaiah 43.  It speaks of God summoning us by name and being with us through all the rivers and fiery challenges of life.  I wrote about that eight years ago at another blog site of mine called "Moments With God. " The link for that is below.  I hope you find this a comfort as well, dear child of God. 

http://scripturemoments.blogspot.com/2017/09/isaiah-43_14.html

Life's Puzzle Pieces

 

I have never been good at putting puzzles together.  It is not my talent, and I have never enjoyed trying to fit the pieces together.  I have seen completed puzzles, however, and often they portray beautiful scenes.

Sometimes it is difficult to see the completed product of my life's puzzles pieces as well.  It has been challenging sometimes to understand the Lord's plan in the overwhelming moments of my life.  God is so much wiser than I am, however.

Also I can know by faith that the Lord loves me and is meeting all my needs.  He has forgiven my sins,  and He is fitting what I perceive to be the missing pieces of my life into a beautiful picture.  When I look back on my life I can already see how He has used difficult times for His glory and my good.  I can begin to see how the pieces are fitting together.

 I will, however, never fully see the completed and big picture of God's love and wisdom until I reach eternity.  Yet as the picture above illustrates, my life is molded by the heart of God and by His love.  I may still see my life as having missing pieces, but He sees the beautiful finished product.  Philippians 1:6 (NIV) says, "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."  He is fitting the puzzle pieces of my life together into something beautiful.  Dear child of God, trust that the Lord is also fitting the puzzle pieces of your life together into a beautiful mosaic of His love!