Receiving the Refreshment of the Lordနမူနာ

Day 4 -REST

What does the REST that Jesus offers look like? What does it mean to rest in Him? For most of us, it doesn’t always come easily or naturally. You see, when we lay our burdens at His feet, we must actually leave our stuff there. Not like the scenario that often plays out in the lives of many of us. We lay whatever the burden is down. We let God know we’re laying it down. We check back later to remind Him it's there. And then we check back again just in case He forgot. After the third or fourth time checking on His “progress,” God gently reminds us that His ways, His timing, are not the same as ours are. But understanding and accepting His timing and His ways in the hard stuff can often feel frustrating, scary, and just plain hard. So, when it feels like we’ve waited for an interminable period of time for God to “fix” the problem the way we think He should, we pick the thing back up, convincing ourselves we can take care of it on our own. Not surprisingly, we soon find ourselves right back in a sea of overwhelm and the crushing weight of that burden again begins to weigh heavy on our lives. Oh, if only we would REST from trying to carry those burdens and simply let Jesus carry them instead! Scripture offers many reasons to look to the Lord for help. To keep our minds focused on Him. To trust in Him. To rest in Him.

Psalm 91:2-4 says, “I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust: He himself will rescue you from the bird trap, from the destructive plague. He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.”

In Psalm 94:18-19, we read, “If I say, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your faithful love will support me, Lord. When I am filled with cares, your comfort brings me joy.”

And in Isaiah 26:3-4, we find “You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you. Trust in the Lord forever, because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock!”

When we choose to rest in Him, trusting Him with our burdens, believing that He will take care of whatever is happening in our lives better than we ever could, it’s then that we can enjoy the safety of His refuge. It’s then we experience His comfort and joy. And it’s then we realize His peace.

Thank you, Father, that we can trust your love for us. Thank you, Jesus, that when the burdens of life are hard, we can lay them at your feet and know that you will carry them. Thank you that as we rest in you, you refresh us with your peace, your comfort, and your joy.