Bible Ballistics: Vol. 16 No. 05 But I’m Tired???
It’s been a long week at our house—how about you? It’s been a long year for most of us, what with life in general, COVID, schools off and on like a light switch, churches even more so. Isolation, quarantine, health crises—and we could go on and on. We had a few crises at our house just this week, some physical issues, a dear friend who went to be with The Lord, my last aunt and uncle also went to meet our Lord only a day apart after 67 years of marriage. Joys, sorrows, and confusion yet in the midst of it all, the assurance that “God is still God! God is still good! And I still trust HIM!” How about you?
While all of this seems easy to talk about, it’s often difficult to get through it! When we are in need (and we all are from time to time) the thing we need to do is draw near to our Lord and His Word.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil,
and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God,
and he will draw nigh to you.
Cleanse your hands,
ye sinners;
and purify your hearts,
ye double minded.” James 4:7-8
“But it is good for me
to draw near to God:
I have put my trust
in the Lord GOD,
that I may declare
all thy works.” Psalm 73:28
Even Jesus was weary sometimes, and He called not only His disciples to rest, but all of us–men, women, boys and girls—to come to HIM for rest. I’m so grateful that HIS rest is unparalleled (and He always knows when I need it—even when I don’t!)!
“Come unto me,
all ye that labour
and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you,
and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest
unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
The disciples (like many of us today) were in the midst of ministry and people, when Jesus, rather than sending them out to do more, called them to rest. I don’t know about you, but we all sometimes need to come aside and rest. I have to admit I have a hard time, even in this last year of grief and sorrow, being able to “stop” and “rest” in the midst of ministry and life. How about you?
“And the apostles gathered themselves together
unto Jesus,
and told him all things,
both what they had done,
and what they had taught.
31 And he said unto them,
Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place,
and rest a while:
for there were many coming and going,
and they had no leisure
so much as to eat.
32 And they departed into a desert place
by ship privately.” Mark 6:30-32
Sometimes we just need to “come…apart” for rest, refreshing and renewal. I would simply like to share a bit of advice from God’s Word for myself and also for you. May God minister HIS grace, comfort and refreshing to our souls—mine is in need for sure! It is the power of God that gives the rest to souls in need—only in HIS way!
“And to whom sware he
that they should not enter into his rest,
but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in
because of unbelief.” Hebrews 3:18-19
We must keep our eyes on Jesus, for HE alone is our strength and our hope, and by HIS grace we can go on when it seems that there is no way. God gave Paul this message and I have always found comfort in it and I hope you will too. (See Hebrews 12:1-2)
“For though I would desire to glory,
I shall not be a fool;
for I will say the truth:
but now I forbear,
lest any man should think of me
above that which he seeth me to be,
or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted
above measure
through the abundance
of the revelations,
there was given to me a thorn in the flesh,
the messenger of Satan to buffet me,
lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,
that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me,
My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect
in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory
in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ
may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure
in infirmities,
in reproaches,
in necessities,
in persecutions,
in distresses
for Christ’s sake:
for when I am weak,
then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:6-10
As we find our hope, strength and confidence in God, HE is accomplishing HIS purposes in us.
“I know both how to be abased,
and I know how to abound:
every where
and in all things
I am instructed both to be full
and to be hungry,
both to abound
and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things
through Christ which strengtheneth me…
… 18 But I have all,
and abound:
I am full,
having received of Epaphroditus
the things which were sent from you,
an odour of a sweet smell,
a sacrifice acceptable,
wellpleasing to God.
19 But my God shall supply all your need
according to his riches in glory
by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:12-13 & 18-19
It is in giving that we receive the most; and may I say, in closing, that our hope is in the perfect plan of God, for all that HE does is for His glory and our good, as well as the benefit of a world in need of a Savior. We must keep our eyes on HIM and march forward in hope and confidence in The One who gave HIMSELF for our sin, that we may be useful to God as we bless others!
“Blessed be God,
even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of mercies,
and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort them
which are in any trouble,
by the comfort
wherewith we ourselves are comforted
of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also aboundeth
by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted,
it is for your consolation and salvation,
which is effectual
in the enduring
of the same sufferings
which we also suffer:
or whether we be comforted,
it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you
is stedfast,
knowing,
that as ye are partakers
of the sufferings,
so shall ye be also
of the consolation.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
So, here is one of my favorite passages of encouragement; may it encourage your heart today!
“But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye stedfast,
unmoveable,
always abounding
in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labour
is not in vain
in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:57-58
May the peace and rest of Jesus rest upon you and yours!
Amen and Amen!!!
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