The Path Of A Peacemaker A Devotional By P. Brian NobleSampel

“Go to Jesus”

No matter what you are going through, go to Jesus. If you and your wife are fighting, go to Jesus. If you’re fighting with a coworker, go to Jesus. If you’re leading and people are not following, go to Jesus. He is the source of life. He is the source of rest. He is the source of all comfort. 

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28 NIV). Let’s break this down.

•  “Come to me . . .”

How do we go to Jesus? We go to him in faith. 

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (NIV). Be confident, have hope, walk in assurance even when you do not see how the things you are hoping for will come about. Your problems may not instantly be fixed, but at the very least you will not be alone as you seek to better your situation.

•  “All you who are weary . . .”

In life, we get worn out. We get beaten down. We feel as if we’re going to faint. But what does Jesus say? Come to him, all you who are weary.

Through prayer, Jesus will refresh you. Through his Word, he will energize you. Through his presence, he will comfort you.

•  “And burdened . . .”

What does it mean to be “burdened”? The Greek word is phortizō, and it could be used to describe a ship that has been overloaded with freight. What happens to an overloaded ship? It sinks. In the middle of relational tension, the ship of your heart can feel overloaded. But when the seas are high and the winds are strong, Jesus will keep you afloat.

• “I will give you rest.”

Jesus has already promised his side of the bargain: I will give you rest. Our responsibility is to accept that rest, and that involves willingly trusting him. 

People who are easily worked up do not receive God’s rest. They run around and make a lot of noise, but they don’t rest. Do you believe God is actively present in your conflicts? Then trust him to take the burden of those conflicts. And rest.

Regardless of the tension you are involved in, go to Jesus now and ask for his supernatural rest.