Resting

 Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

John W. Dennis wrote a hymn with the following beautiful words:

1. How oft when I’m weary and sorrow oppressed,

I long for the home where no harm can molest;

O may we all meet in the land of the blest,

And rest in the arms of the Savior.

Refrain

Rest in the arms of my Savior,

Rest in the arms of my Savior;

I want to go there to those mansions so fair,

To rest in the arms of my Savior.

2. How sweet it will be when we meet on that strand,

And hear the glad songs of the heavenly land;

O may we be found of the purified band,

And rest in the arms of the Savior.

Refrain

3. The way may be rough and the journey be long,

The battle be hard with temptation and wrong;

But when we have reached Heaven’s glorified throng,

We’ll rest in the arms of the Savior.

Refrain

4. When Jesus doth call us, the conflict will cease.

From every burden we’ll find sweet release;

Our souls shall rejoice in eternity’s peace,

And rest in the arms of the Savior.

Refrain

Our world is a rough one isn’t it?   It seems that every day a new problem or a new trouble rears its head.  This is what I’ve experienced for the past couple months.  Life changes in work schedules, family demands, relationships, and just the everyday throws of life can be overwhelming at times.

What we as Christians, and present company included, tend to forget, is our God knows that.  He told us in Scripture as recorded in the book of Matthew for us to come to Him when we are burdened, when life’s battles have us overwhelmed.  A lot of times when the valley enters our lives, we feel defeated.  We feel that we may not be the strongest Christian because, “shouldn’t we be strong during these times?”   It’s during these times however that we should be drawing closer to our Savior.   We need to remember His words to come to Him for rest.  

It’s not a surprise to Him, and it’s not something unexpected.  Jesus knew the battles would come.  He knew we would feel burdened.  He knew we would need rest and comfort.  Jesus knowing that tells us in all His love, and all of His grace, in all of His compassion, in all of His gentleness, to give it to Him.

We can come to Him with a heavy heart.  We can come to Him with tears in our eyes.  We can come to Him with feelings that we are a failure.   We can come to Him broken.  We can come to Him with feelings of hopelessness.   We just need to come.

Those who practice such are the strongest Christians because when we do that, He gives us His strength.  He gives us His reassurance.  Christ’s yoke is easy.  When we are yoked with Him, it puts us in step with Him.  When an ox is yoked with another ox or a horse yoked with another horse, the two must walk in step.  When one is struggling, the other slows down and allows the other to rest so that they can begin at the pace again.  At the same time, the stronger, while feeling the needs of the others, will continue to push the other on toward the goal that they must accomplish.   To make sure that the work is done.  To make sure that at the end of the day, they can rest in the pasture.

I’m sorry my friends that it has been a long time since I have posted.  I needed to rest with my Savior.  I needed to make sure that I was yoked with Him and have Him take upon my burdens and enlighten some things in my heart.

I have many friends who have experienced hurt and pain over the past few months.  My friends, this devotion is for you.

I love you but above all, above all else, Jesus Christ loves you.