Rest
"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable." Hebrews 4:13
Do you find yourself starting to pray then go off on "rabbit trails" in your mind? Thoughts about what you need to do today, thoughts about disappointments or hurts you have to deal with, dealing with people's expectations for you, confusion and, yes, fear concerning what is happening in the world outside your door. Rabbit trails. Do you find yourself losing inner peace because of where these thoughts lead you? I do.
For me, anger (I like to justify it as righteous anger) arises at the injustice I see in the world. In Psalm 73, Asaph couldn't tear his eyes off the world and the people who profit the world's way and it was taking him down,
"What does God know?' they ask. 'Does the Most High even know what's happening?" verse 11
Everything changed when he went into God's sanctuary and he saw circumstances from God's eyes. He saw the end in store for everyone who rejects God's love through unbelief, through rebellion, through self promotion. And he realized he was bitter and torn up inside (verse 21).
He didn't remain in that place of turmoil. He remembered who God is. He remembered who he is in God. "Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand." (verse 23) He found rest.
"God's promise of entering his rest still stands..." Hebrews 4:1a
"For only we who believe can enter his rest." Hebrews 4:3a
The antidote for today's unrest is to spend time with Jesus, the Word of God. When we open His Word and read, we are cleansed and refreshed. We gain God's perspective on what is happening in the world, in our lives, in our dear ones' lives...in everything that concerns us.
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Hebrews 4:12
God uses His Word to expose to us what is really going on. What is bugging us...what keeps us from fully committing our day, our lives, to Him. He turns us to Jesus, this High Priest of ours, who understands our weaknesses (because he went through all the temptations and testings we do, but gave us the victory because HE DID NOT SIN). Jesus, who loves us, who holds our right hand.
"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16
Jesus. The thought-changer. The healer. The One who matures our faith. The One who gives us rest. It's a choice. It's an action. We must come.
"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30
by Marilyn Allison