Rest(less)

“Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”- Matthew 8:24-26

Are you feeling restless in this season? There are only so many shows to binge watch; only so many puzzles to put together; only so many home projects to tackle; and only so many places to go out in public these days. With the recent rise in virus cases and this week’s news of a second round of closures to many types of businesses, it would be easy to lose heart and forget about the hope we have in Jesus.

This season has been longer and harder than any of us realized or could have foreseen. There have been times I have felt like a child, in the backseat of the car on a long drive, asking, “Are we there yet?” As we navigate these rough waters, we need to remember that we know the Lord who is over every storm. Just as Jesus slept during the storm, He is prescribing and inviting us to take REST in Him. In Matthew 11:28, He welcomes His friends to a better place beyond the burdens of life, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

True REST is more than the number of hours of sleep one gets, a beautiful day at the beach, or unwinding after work. The type of rest spoken of in the Scriptures only comes by putting complete trust in the Lord. Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” A person at rest knows that the Lord is with them in their present moment and need. And they are fully convinced that God’s promise will come to pass, no matter the size of the storm.

My friend, Jesus has not left you alone in the boat to frantically fight the waves. He is in the boat, inviting you to choose being by His side, rather than being swept away with fear and unrest by today’s tsunami. May your rest in Him be sweet and silent every wave of fear you may be feeling in these days. Find rest in His presence! Find peace in His Scriptures! Find strength in His Spirit! Find joy in His promises!