Reside in His Rest

When you’re caught in the middle of a storm, what do you do? Life’s storms are unavoidable, and they come in different forms — some are as light as a sprinkle, while others are as powerful as a hurricane — but no matter how powerful they are, they always take us by surprise when they arrive. Storms might manifest as health troubles, financial difficulties, or challenges in your family or marriage. Whatever they are, we want to know how to deal with them as Christians; how are we expected to feel, think, and respond in their presence? I believe the dream is to be relaxed as we navigate stormy waters. When we are being thrown around by life’s waves, our wish (which may appear to be a delusion) is to be calm and at ease. In fact, in the Old Testament, the punishment for families, tribes, or individuals who did truly horrible actions was that they would be barred from entering God’s rest. This, my friend, is still a curse today.

Friend, nothing is more frustrating than feeling unable to rest; a season in which you are unable to unwind and your mind refuses to settle down. You may begin to feel insane and wonder if you, too, are cursed by God as your thoughts spiral out of control and your routine leaves you feeling like you’re on a hamster wheel. However, I can assure you that you are not! You live under the new covenant, and your loving Father loves you, cares for you, provides for you, and affirms the promise of Hebrews 4:1 with a resounding “yes and amen!” His rest remains, and no matter how chaotic your circumstances appear, you can enter it right now. Today, I invite you to fix your gaze on Jesus, take a deep breath, and let His peace that exceeds comprehension wash over you!