My friend Steve was sharing with me how God grabbed a hold of him during his college years. It was then that he stopped running and âgave up.â? I love the way he phrased it. Steveâs statement reminded me of Godâs effectual grace and the simplicity of the Christian life. I can be so foolish. Like Jonah, I would think that my way is better than Godâs and try to run from God. It is in times like these that I need to surrender my desires to God.
If only I can remember to rest in God, I would save myself so much trouble!
This is the great paradox of Christianity. âWhoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.â? â Matthew 10:39. We find ourselves by losing ourselves to Christ. The solution to finding rest is easier than we think. We canât do anything to earn Godâs favor or peace. We need only to humble ourselves before God, confess our sin, and submit to His will.
(To paraphrase C.J. Mahaneyâ¦) It can only be this easy, because the Savior has done the imaginably difficult. At the right time, while we were still weak, Christ died for the ungodly. He did this so that we could have peace with God. (Romans 5) How do we get this peace? It was Jesus who said:
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. – Matthew 11:28-29
Look to Jesus for peace!
This is something that I am still learning to do. Often in my Christian life, I need to be reminded to rest in God. When I am tempted to be lonely, I must find my rest in God! It is only when I surrender my will and life to God that I can remain content and peaceful. I am prone to wonder, prone to leave the God I love. But my hope and prayer is that the Lord will take my heart and seal it for His courts above. God is faithful.
Rest in peace grandfather Thomas Louie. We know your in God’s presence, experiencing fullness of joy and peace. We know God promises eternal rest to those who believe and I look forward to seeing you again.
