Few people will disagree that life today is busier and more complicated than ever before. We are stressed and anxious about many things, from finances to children, from health issues to the condition of the world. The Bible actually said that it would be so:
But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 2 Timothy 3:1 – Amplified Bible
Stress has become a way of life for many people, but, in the middle of it all, Jesus invites us into His rest.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29
How can you rest when nothing in your life works out? When bad news comes from every direction and there seems to be no way out? The answer is actually very simple: you cannot change your situation by worrying about it. In fact, anxiety only adds to it by making you part of the problem. Somehow people think that worrying about their troubles is a sign of responsibility. It isn’t. Anxiety is much rather shows that your trust in the Lord is not complete.
Choose to enter into the rest that Jesus offers by giving the problem to Him. The apostle Peter’s advice is “…casting your care upon Him for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) Every believer must learn to do this because problems will always be a part of life in our fallen world. Yet we were not born to worry and die, but to live a life that glorifies God by the fruit that we bear.
The Israelites experienced this firsthand as they trekked through the wilderness with its many dangers and challenges. Forgetting how the Lord delivered them with a mighty hand, they began to complain. The jubilant rejoicing after they crossed the Red Sea soon made room to murmuring and negativity, and it cost them dearly. They received exactly what they feared as none of those complainers saw the promise fulfilled.
The book of Hebrews calls their complaining disobedience and unbelief because they did not mix the promise with faith. (Hebrews 4:2) Both unbelief and disobedience are sinful things.
Every problem that shows up also presents you with a choice: either accept it with the stress that comes with it, or give it to the Lord to take care of. If you accept the problem as your own, you will have to deal with it, even if you can’t. Or you can say, “This is the Lord’s problem, He will take care of it,” and let it go. Then thank Him for it without taking it back.
Jesus is our rest. He is the Prince of Peace, and He rules with peace in our hearts. The One that conquered all gave us His peace (John 14:27)
Let us therefore be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], that no one may fall or perish by the same kind of unbelief and disobedience [into which those in the wilderness fell]. Hebrews 4:11 – Amplified Bible
You were born again to win. The Lord promised to never leave or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) Even if you missed it with Him, He will be there for you because His love is unconditional.
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 2 Timothy 1:12
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