FINDING REST IN UN-REST

Mass murders, rapes, abductions, robbery at gunpoint, churches being burned or bombed, trusted officials treating suspects brutally, and angry men shooting policemen to death - this is the world we find around us.  This is not happening only in countries around us but right here in the United States.

Kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, morbid obesity, hospitalizations, cancer, and children dying before they reach their teens.  After reading these two lists how are you feeling?  Hopeless?

Fear, dread, hatred, anger, confusion, weariness, and mental illness.  Do you find any rest in these three lists?  You cannot find true rest in this world.  This world is still full of the fruit of sinful man.  Even King Solomon recognized what it was like to live life in this sin filled world:  “So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun caused me only great sorrow; because all is futility and chasing after the wind.” –Ecclesiastes 2:17 AMP

When I was young I found myself becoming anxious when I watched the evening news and heard of all the violence around the world.  At that time we did not see much violence in the United States.  As the years go by I find these things increase all around me.  It should make me worried and anxious but it does not.  Why?  I am at peace during the midst of turmoil due to fellowship with the God Who created this world.  I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior on October 30, 1973 at the age of seventeen.  In the past 43 years I have grown in knowledge of Him through reading His Word, spending daily quality time in His Presence in prayer, and worshiping regularly with other believers.  I have found rest in the un-rest.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” –Matthew 11:28 KJV

Many of us know this verse and claim it as a promise that God will give us rest but we often forget that the promise is conditional, “Come unto me…”  I used to think that this meant I was to go to Him in prayer.  That was the level of my faith when I was young; call out to Him in prayer and He will give me what I need.  God loves us so much He will meet us where our faith is at and does meet our needs (Phil. 4:19) but He has so much more for us.  Let me share with you this verse in context with the verses that follow it:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened, and I will give you rest! Put on my yoke and learn from me. For I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” –Matthew 11:28-30 PHILLIPS

Here we find another prerequisite to finding that much sought after rest, “Put on my yoke and learn from me.”  When I see an ambulance going by with siren and lights flashing I take a moment and pray for those EMTs, for God to give them wisdom regarding the person they are helping and for safety in all that are concerned.  When I see a homeless person begging for money and food I drive through the nearest fast food “drive-through” and get a meal for them.  Then when I drive by where they are I give them the meal and ask God to bless him.  When I see some tragedy on the news I find myself praying for all the sorrowful family and friends related to it to find the peace and rest in God as I have.  I do not set out to do these things, they just spring from the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  I am sharing His yoke (burden) and it is easy to do.  I spend time reading His Word every morning and bring my thanks, praise, and needs in prayer to Him.  I try to read at least one Psalm in the middle of the day.  Every night the last thing I do before going to bed is to read out of a devotional book and pray about what I read with Him.  He is truly the Alpha and Omega – the beginning and ending of every day for me.  This is the way I come to Him and learn from Him.  In this world of un-rest I have found rest.  He IS my rest!

“Come here to me, all who are growing weary to the point of exhaustion, and who have been loaded with burdens and are bending beneath their weight, and I alone will cause you to cease from your labor and take away your burdens and thus refresh you with rest.  Take at once my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find cessation from labor and refreshment for your souls, for my yoke is mild and pleasant, and my load is light in weight.” –Matthew 11:28-30 WUEST

Oh brothers and sisters in the Lord I pray that each of you will find His rest in this world of un-rest!  It is simple, all you have to do is, go to Him, give Him your burdens and learn from Him.  He will give you rest.

DON'T TRY

One of my most favorite movie lines was delivered by a puppet.  In The Empire Strikes Back of the Star Wars series, when Luke Skywalker is instructed by his teacher to do what would normally be impossible he responds, “I’ll try”.  I love it when Yoda replies, “Try not!  Do or do not!”  Luke puts his best effort into the task and starts to do the task then fails explaining, “I just can’t do it, it’s impossible,” whereas Yoda shakes his head and states, “That is why you fail.”

 

Wikipedia describes Failure as the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success.  Webster’s Dictionary states that Failure is an omission of occurrence or performance; specifically: a failing to perform a duty or expected action (as in not paying the rent): a state of inability to perform a normal function (as in a person’s kidneys not working): an abrupt cessation of normal functioning (as in an electrical power failure).

“Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; Do not destroy his resting place; For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster and collapse.  Do not rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles,” –Proverbs 24:15-17 AMP

Why do the righteous fall and then rise again?  Why do they keep trying?  We believers keep trying because we have a hope (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP).  During a family devotion my Dad, Tom, once said, “Failure is victory.  People try and try and try and try!  That’s how they become successful in their endeavors.”

I have failed at many things in my life as I am sure you have too.  I have also succeeded in many things as well.  Why?  I have found that most of my successes have been preceded by a number of tries and failures, as well as a change in attitude.  The attitude of being determined to accomplish something did not work.  Like Luke Skywalker I was determined but did not succeed.  My successes came when I turned the issues over to the Lord and waited on His direction.  You see, I can do nothing on my own (Romans 9:16; Ephesians 2:8; Galatians 3:3) but I can rely on Him “…because the foolishness of God is not foolishness at all and is wiser than men far beyond human comprehension, and the weakness of God is stronger than men far beyond the limits of human effort.” -1 Corinthians 1:25

In conclusion let me ask you; have you been trying to accomplish something, depressed because things are not going your way, or struggling with some circumstance or issue?  Exercise your faith and give it over to God.

“For this very reason, applying your diligence to the divine promises, make every effort in exercising your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge insight, understanding, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, develop Christian love that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit. For as these qualities are yours and are increasing in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity, they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.” -2 Peter 1:5-8 AMP