Life in 2022 can be filled with hurry, worry, and a state of absolute busyness. Running smack into stress is as common as breathing. You’re tested just getting from A to B whether driving, using public transportation or even on waiting for an elevator. The constant sound of sirens can numb our senses to the point of unconcern due to our own stress levels. Hearing of daily random acts of violence, facing constant price increases, unending political insanity, and concern about one public disease then another doesn’t help.
Knowing we would face these things and more, Jesus invites us to live in rest, even in 2022! (Math 11:28)
For more than a month, I read Matthew 11:28 and Hebrews 4, battling with the concept of experiencing this rest Jesus gives. Every time I received the rest, something quickly came along to test the rest. But isn’t that the point?
We’re tested daily but find the answer in “joining our faith with the Word which activates the promise” of rest (Hebrews 4:3 TPT).
When we learn and believe what Jesus has already said about our situation, rest is received (Matth 11:28). Instead of learning what Jesus said and yoking (joining our faith) with the Word (Jesus is the Word) we sometimes allow the tests to reign and wear us down. Weariness and stress set in and rob us of our promised rest, producing stress.
Hebrews 4:11 (KJV) states we should “labor to enter into rest”. What a contradiction of terms! Though Jesus gives us rest, we must labor or make every effort to enter that rest. According to Hebrews 4. doubt is disobedience and it robs us of rest and the promises of God. Doubt/failure to believe, took the lives of the children of Israel.
Jesus says TODAY, despite every obstacle, if we will (we have a choice), we can enter His rest (Hebrews 3:13). Let’s join our faith to the word of God, no matter what today brings, and confidently, obediently live in rest!
