Rest for your soul

The source

Too often we run to things that don’t actually give us the rest that we are seeking. Real refreshment can only come from God. Only the Lord has the ability to restore our soul. Other things can give a measure of rest to different parts of our being but only God can truly refresh us and give us the rest we seek. More sleep, entertainment, and a myriad of other things can’t provide the rest that Jesus can.

God tells us in Jeremiah 2:13, “they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Only Jesus can fully satisfy us. Only the Lord restores our soul (Psalm 23:3). Jesus tells us this in Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”

The type

The peace that Jesus gives us is not the same as the "peace" the world gives (John 14:27). The world defines peace as an absence of conflict. The peace that God gives is a peace that can be experienced in the midst of conflict. Its a peace that doesn't make sense. The peace of God surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). God's peace is a supernatural peace that is so much better and so much deeper than the peace the world gives.

In the storm

Jesus demonstrates this peace when He is found sleeping in the midst of a raging storm (Mark 4:35-41). We are invited to rest in God in the same way. We can transcend our circumstances and rest in the love of God. The hope of the resurrection in the future and the joy of communing with God in the present gives us peace even in the midst of a troubling storm—because we have something else! Our life is not merely about circumstances in our life right now but rather our life is "hidden with God in Christ" (Colossians 3:3). This is the secret of being content (Philippians 4:11).

_{Image Source}

In Christ alone

As St. Augustine says, we are restless until we rest in God. His actual quote is:

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Undoubtably Psalm 62 was the inspiration for this quote in which David sang in verse 1: "truly my soul finds rest in God." Nothing else can deliver this kind of peace. Nothing else will work.

In the nails

This peace was not free. Such a costly gift had such a costly price. Jesus paid for us to be able to experience this peace when He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. "The chastisement for our peace was upon Him" (Isaiah 53:5).

Prayer

Thank you for Your peace, God! Thank you for making this peace available to me! Thank you, Jesus, for being willing to receive the penalty due for me to have peace! Help me return to the source when I need rest! Help me turn to You instead of broken cisterns! "Find rest, O soul, in God alone! My hope comes from Him! Truly He is my rock and my salvation! He is my fortress! I will not be shaken!" (Psalm 62:5-6)