I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest.
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down,
Thy head upon my breast.”
Probably the number one issue for me during the Covid crisis has been fatigue coupled with not enough sleep. I have had to learn how to deal with complex new challenges every day and after a while, it has become physically and mentally draining. This week’s devotional is one that I need to take to heart, and if I am struggling, then many of you must be as well. As I write this I am mindful of the promise of Jesus in Matthew’s gospel:-
Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV)
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.”
Jesus never promised that if we come to him we will never have troubles or problems did He? Quite the opposite in fact. Jesus promised that we would face situations such as we are facing in the world today. The difference for the believer is that He has promised to be there with us in the middle of our difficulties and stress. Just a couple of hours before His arrest, whilst on His journey towards Gethsemane, Jesus gave His disciples one last promise: –
John 16:33 (AMP)
33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
The answer to life’s pressures and stresses is to be found in Jesus. As we read earlier, He simply says come. Easy to say but as I am finding, not so easy to live.
Bob Gass offers us some wisdom on the subject, and He writes:-
“Blessed with success, but cursed with ambition, we self-destruct because we don’t know how to rest. Samson could handle a thousand soldiers single-handed, but he couldn’t handle the loneliness of an empty room, so he finished up in Delilah’s lap. T.D. Jakes says, “Her weapons were not her lips, hips, and fingertips, but rather his tiredness, his numbness, and his inner void.” David cried, “Thou hast been a shelter for me” (Psalms 61:1–3).
David found the answer in God’s presence; Samson never did, and it killed him! Delilah’s lap looked so good to Samson that he stayed too long, talked too much, and lost everything. When you’re tired, you’re vulnerable!
Your “Delilah” can be anything that comes into your life to deplete your strength. It can be a career, a relationship, or a habit. It’s what you turn to when you need to escape. Don’t be fooled—she may delight you tonight, but she’ll destroy you tomorrow. Get up while you can and run—don’t walk—run to the arms of Jesus.”[1]
I think that there is enough wisdom in this devotional for all of us to find something that we can personally relate to. My prayer is that you too will find your rest in the arms of Jesus.
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary and worn and sad.
I found in Him a resting-place,
And He hath made me glad.[2]
[1] Bob Gass, A Fresh Word For Today : 365 Insights For Daily Living (Alachua, FL: Bridge-Logos Publishers, 1998), 230.
[2] Lyrics, Horatius Bonar.