A Sigh of Relief

Have you ever been so burdened by something that your heart literally feels heavy? A time when you felt like you were carrying the proverbial “weight of the world on your shoulders”? Do you often feel overwhelmed by life’s circumstances?

Note that each of these scenarios involves how we “feel.” Feelings can cloud the truth, if we’re not careful. We have to make a conscious effort to focus on what is true and real: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (Phil. 4:8)

The reality is that God has promised to carry our burdens for us. He desires to give us rest: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you 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)

I recently quoted those verses in another blog about resting. It seems that I needed to write a sequel, as I’m still contemplating the key to finding true rest. Surely God understands our frailty, as our heart cries out with the Psalmist: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.” (Psalm 25:16-17)

It is His rest that we seek. “For the one who has entered HIS REST has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:10-11 True rest is found by trusting in the finished work of Christ…resting from our “works.” This rest is not dependent on our feelings, but on the truth of The Gospel:

“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8-9

And verse 10 takes it a step further: “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”

Perhaps I am a step closer to understanding the rest God intends for us. HIS REST doesn’t come from striving, but from trusting that He will bring about His purpose in our lives as we rest in Him. I don’t know about you, but that causes me to breathe a sigh of relief.