“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.” Deuteronomy 33:12 (NIV)
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 (NIV)
We can often feel anxious, agitated and restless in our minds while all the while paralyzed or frozen in our bodies, Amen? It is in our minds that Satan begins to weave the web and start the proverbial snowball of his destructive thoughts. The whispering of “Did God really say” in our ears is as old as the Garden of Eden. If he can’t keep us from being saved, he seeks to keep us from being used. He loves for us to doubt and question Truth and rob us of the rest and peace and joy that God so longs for us to appropriate (as well as sleep!). Jesus came to remind us that this is a war and that we are to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Him. Our thoughts really do matter. Indeed, our thoughts are to be our safety net in this war for our attention and, even more so, for our souls. We are to fix our eyes on Jesus.
Everything we say or do reflects or obscures our Lord in our spheres of influence – and we all have them. As we grow more and more Christlike bearing his image we will reflect His peace and light bringing Him much glory. Even in the midst of trials and tribulations we can be kept in perfect peace with a steadfast mind trusting in Him knowing He always has our best interest at heart in all that He allows in the lives of His heirs of mercy. The peace He bestows to the child of the King as they walk through their “Valley of Baca’s” (tears) is unearthly in its nature. The soul is lifted to a peace that passes understanding as they rest secure in their Savior. One never outgives God. Because of the effect of trials and tribulations on the believer lifting them to a fuller enjoyment of God, the saints in Christ can embrace the cross as others would do the world’s crown. Hebrews 11 demonstrates that. Trials afflict but never harm – all things working for the good of those who love Him – even though most are unutterably hard. Weeping may remain for the night but joy comes in the morning. The “short” storm ending in everlasting calm. We must learn to measure our trials and afflictions by their outcome and not their difficulty. He is conforming us into the image of His Son. Remember, the misery that follows rebellion is far greater. “There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)