I Will Give You Rest

I Will Give You Rest

All of our grandkids love to spend the night with us. We enjoy it too. From the time they were tiny they have almost always slept the entire night when staying with us. Even little Stella, if she is here in the late afternoon, is liable to fall asleep.  It’s like they just can’t help it. They are so relaxed here that sleep hits them soundly and they succumb to it. They all try to stay up late but one by one they fall out. I’m glad to know they are that comfortable here. 

We adults like to have our rest too. Only by the time we’re grown we have lots on our mind. Sometimes it’s counting and recounting the bills. Or it may be the pressure of work and family life. Other times it’s health concerns or work situations. Whatever it is, we tend to stay awake and play it over in our minds.  We think we have to lose sleep over things we can do nothing about in the middle of the night.  Sleep can become a regular absentee if we don’t find a way to get a good night’s rest. We become sluggish, listless and even crabby. More coffee doesn’t help the situation either. We look for something to help us, but the things of life keep rushing back into our minds. We need rest.

Oh beloved, you have been carrying some mighty heavy burdens and you have gotten very weary. Whether it’s regrets from yesterday, worries about today or lack of hope for tomorrow, you are worn out from trying to figure it all out. Even the things you can do nothing about want to play themselves over and over in your mind. This continual weariness wears out your heart and your spirit as well as your mind.

God wants you to know that He will give you the rest you need. You can lay your burdens at His feet, every single one of them.  As you give each burden to Him He changes your whole perspective. If He has your burdens, then you can rest. He wants you to know that He knows about every burden you insist on carrying – every single one. He wants you to know you were never meant to carry a single burden, but you have always been destined to give your heart, your life, your mind and your burdens to Him. He will either relieve you of them entirely, removing them from your life- He can do that you know. Or He will change their perspective and give you opportunity to deal with them as possibilities rather than unmanageable situations. He wants you to know that He walked up the hill of Golgotha and carried everything you are weighed down with to the Cross. He felt the burden and took it from you permanently.

God also wants you to know that the rest you need is found in Him alone. Jesus is holding His arms out to you this very day to come to Him. Give Him your heart, let Him renew your mind and remove your burdens. It’s already been done at Calvary. All you have to do is come to Jesus. Whether it is your first encounter with the Risen Lord or you need to rededicate yourself to His Truth – do it today. He is able to make all grace abound to you. He is able to give you a spiritual rest that will change your entire perspective about your life and His love and care.

God loves you and He’s for you – rest in that promise and find rest for your weary heart as He makes all things new for you.

Matthew 11:28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Psalm 91:1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.

Psalm 62:5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.