He Will Give You Rest

Have you been stressed to the point you feel you cannot take another day, another hour, or even another minute of your life?  I know how that feels.  I have been there.  Even as a Christian I have been there, which I found very confusing at times, because I thought I should handle things better.  Constant stress and illness are hard to live with, especially if you are in circumstances where you have felt let down by the Church or by Christian friends.  However, even though, the ideal circumstances are those where you are surrounded by beloved Christian friends, it is not always the case.  I have had both feast and famine in this area;  and I am thankful I have learned to rely on the Lord in both.  

If you have spent much time reading the Bible, you will see ...
that God's anointed in the Old Testament and the New Testament did not always have easy circumstances. Job was righteous and God allowed Satan to test Job.  He lost his family, his health, and his wealth; yet, he did not curse God.  At the end of the story, Job regained his health, his wealth, and he had a new family.  David the King spent a lot of time on the run or hiding.  Stephen was stoned.  Peter and Paul both were imprisoned. 

What a Christian has that is different than an unbeliever is hope...

We know for certain life is going to be better.  As soon as we are saved, we have begun eternal life.  Our bodies may die, but not our souls.  Moreover, we have a Savior that told us He would give us rest.

The Lord wants us to rest in Him. 

That is one of the things I have learned as a person who has a chronic illness.  It has not been Jesus that made things hard in my life.  Sometimes it has been circumstances:  sometimes it has been my own attitude.  Truly, I believe God has been putting me through the refiner's fire, and sometimes, it hurts.  Yet, when I truly rest in Him, I have found my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  He helps me to bear the load.  I do not do it by myself.  I can't, and neither can you.

Father, I pray You will bless the readers of this devotion.  Thank you for bringing me through the fire.  Thank you for the things you are teaching me.  Your joy and peace is incomprehensible, because I have had it in the midst of pain and suffering.  I praise you, my God and my Savior. Amen.

Matthew 11:28-30

King James Version (KJV)

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.