Finding Rest

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

FINDING REST

Prov 19:23

23 The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

NIV

Any questions? This sure seems very plain and clear to understand. When we are in awe of God it leads us to eternal life. When we acknowledge him in all our ways it leads to life. God is the source of all life. He created life in the first place. After forming Adam from the dirt of the earth, be breathed his own breathe into the man, making him a living being, containing the very breathe of God. The very air we breathe today was created by God. The very fact our lungs can be filled with air is because God breathed into the lungs of Adam. However, this fear, this reference, this awe of God is what leads us to eternal life. We cannot take God for granted, we cannot simply incorporate God into our normal everyday life as a human. We need to revere him, hold him in the highest esteem. We need to see him high and lifted up seated upon the throne in Heaven holding the very key to life. If he were for one moment to stop thinking about the earth, about his people, about us, we would simply cease to exist. We live because he lives. Without God we are nothing. In addition to all this, life itself, both this life and the one to come, we can find rest. From the very beginning God has been telling us he is the source of rest.

Ex 33:14

14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest ."

NIV

Yet Jesus reassure us that is the truth as it was from the beginning and it will be forever.

Matt 11:28-30

28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest . 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

NIV

We find rest, contentment in the Lord. What trouble can disturb our rest, our contentment in Christ? It would appear there is none. Sure we encounter situations in life which could cause some anxiety, some concern, some restlessness, but when we are in the presence of our Lord, when we understand that Christ is in us, the Holy Spirit dwells within our being, how is it that we cannot find rest? Paul tells us that he learn to be content in whatever situation he found himself in. Should we not trust God like Paul did? When we place our trust in our own abilities it is then we become anxious. The Psalmist put it best when he said that cursed is the man who trusts in flesh, but blessed in the man who trusts in God. Let us always trust God for not only our salvation, but for every aspect of this life he has given to us. He is the creator and we are the created, how could we every think we are on our own? All we have to think is that when we have a child, do we just leave it to its own devices to live? Not hardly, we nurture it, we cuddle it, we teach it, and protect it helping it to become a mature adult in order to live rightly, showing it the joy and contentment of knowing God. How much more God does that for us. Let us live restfully in Christ, assured of our salvation and his divine guidance and protection over us in this life, content in whatsoever lot we are in.