It can be easy to become caught up in the trials and battles of life and miss out on the peace and joy that Jesus purchased for us. The circumstances we face at home, at work, and in our nation are at times disheartening and tiring. We must choose between faith and fear, and realize that care and worry are enemies of the peace and joy that God has provided for us. It is possible to become so overwhelmed with worry that minds and bodies become unhealthy.
God never intended for human beings to be worried about their existence. Jesus said “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt. 6:26) i’ve never heard two birds chirping at one another “looks like the worm harvest is down this year, I guess were going to starve”, or ” looks like the vultures are in charge again, how can our society survive?” Jesus point was that human beings are far more valuable to God than birds, and if He takes care of the birds, He’ll take care of us as well!
COME TO ME
We are so valuable to God that he sent Jesus to the earth ancaused him to suffer and die for our sins so that we could be truly free. John 3;16 says “for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ” He considers us to be so important that he would spend the most valuable commodity in earth and heaven, the blood of Jesus, for our freedom.
It is not the plan of God for us to be consumed by care and worry and become weary of life. In Matt 11:28, Jesus tells us “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” When we place our trust in Him, and live by faith rather than fear, we can find rest. When Jesus and the disiciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee and a storm began to sink their boat, He was asleep in the stern, not moved by the tempest around them. When the disciples woke him, and said “don’t you care that we are about to go under?” he rebuked the wind and the waves, and asked them ” where is your faith?” He knew that God would always take care of Him, and was unmoved by the trouble around him. He found rest even in the midst of very dangerous circumstances.
REST WITH HIM
That same rest is available to us today. When Jesus finished His work of redemption, the Father “seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Jesus took a seat, and rested from His works, never to labor again. Here is some good news for us all: “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:6) Since we are seated with Jesus in heavenly places, we can rest with Him no matter what challenges we face at home, at work, and in our country.
Heb 4:9-10 says “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. We can rest in the knowledge that God is on the throne, and if we trust Him, He will take care of us. Nothing Satan or any human being does can ever change that. Let’s enjoy the lives God has given us, and find rest in the Lord!
