When worry occupies too much space in your heart and mind, when you’re wrestling with fear or sleep feels far away, there’s help through God’s promises of peace from His Word.
It’s often at night when worry, fear, and struggles press hard. It can be difficult to even think with clarity; too many thoughts and feelings might be swirling around from the day’s burdens. And it’s in those very moments, when we most need to set our minds on what is true, that our focus is often blurred.
But God knows. He understands. And He promises to be with us. We can lay down all the stress we’ve been carrying, for He is the one who gives us true rest and peace.
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Come to Jesus with your burdens.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Some days are particularly hard. We’re exhausted, worn, and tired of fighting. We’ve been struggling with defeated thoughts for far too long. None of us are immune. And often, there’s not even just one big thing, but lots of little battles draining us dry. Parenting, marriage, jobs, relationships, fears, worries about the future, difficult loss, discouragement, illness, money problems—it can all leave us completely beaten down. And the enemy seems to fight hardest when he knows we’re already weary.
God's very presence and the truth of His Word are the only things that can bring deep peace to our souls. The rest He gives is the kind that the world can't offer, the kind of rest that doesn't make sense even to our own minds.
The burdens you find yourself carrying aren't meant to be shouldered by you alone. Choose to lay them down and lean on Him. He is always faithful to give peace and strength to overwhelmed souls and rest to the battle-weary.
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Choose to cast your cares on Him.
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
God knows everything that concerns us today. And He reminds us to cast every care His way. He longs to bless us.
Maybe, at times, we're clutching what we think we know is best, every ounce of control mustered to try to make things work our way in our time. He understands and knows our hearts. But He still says, "Let go." And then He's free to do what only He can do, which is always better than what we’re capable of. It reminds us once again how incredibly sovereign and able our God is.
May God help us to come before Him with our troubles. May He lift all the burdens of anxiety from our shoulders. Where we've been filled with doubt, may He replace it with faith. Where we've been filled with racing thoughts, may He replace them with calm.
He promises to give peace and rest, and He won't ever leave us to work things out on our own. His blessings, in His time, in His ways, are always much greater than we could ever imagine.
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Be still. God’s got it, so you can get some rest.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear…Be still, and know that I am God…the Lord Almighty is with us...” (Psalm 46:1-2, 10-11)
This verse is such a great reminder in our busy, hectic world because it’s what most of us have the greatest need for in this life—to just learn to “be still,” more. Maybe for many of us, recent days have been full. Maybe everything hasn't gone as planned. Maybe times seem hard and we’re not sure what God is doing through this difficult season we’re facing.
When we're often so prone to hurry and worry, just learning to be still can feel like a challenge. But He's so much bigger than our problems or worries, bigger than any giant or obstacle we might be facing. And He can do in just a moment what it might take us years to work through on our own.
Whatever's concerning us tonight, we can entrust it to our powerful God. He's at work on our behalf right now, lining up pathways, smoothing out the road ahead, working through every burden and care, working miracles as only He can—so we can rest.
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We can trust our God who is always faithful.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Sometimes, it's a battle to trust that God’s ways are better. We might think He missed it or forgot us or doesn't really care. Or we start to think that we know better somehow—like God needs our help to know what to do.
Maybe, we get in a hurry. It's hard to wait for answers, and we feel like we're just wasting time. But it’s His truth that reminds us of His constant guidance and help no matter what we’re facing.
"Trust (be confident in, be bold, be secure) in the Lord with all your heart (seat of emotions, inclinations, mind, soul), and do not lean (trust, support) on your own understanding (discernment). In all your ways acknowledge (know, recognize) Him, and He will make your paths straight (pleasing, right, smooth)." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
He never asks us to figure it all out on our own. He just asks us to trust Him and to recognize His leadership and sovereignty in our lives. And He promises to make our pathways smooth. He gives us all we need to be strong and confident, assuring us that He's in control of all those things that concern us, and He will lead our way.
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Be assured that God hears your prayers and He is at work.
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)
Sometimes God doesn’t take away our problems or change our situation because His work is much bigger than that. He’s trying to change our hearts.
Most all of us have been there at some point along the way. And no matter how hard we pray about our “situation,” it seems like God’s not working fast enough, or maybe not even listening. But be assured, He hears, He sees, He knows all we’re going through right now, and sometimes the work He’s doing is greater on the inside than what we see around us.
We can trust Him fully. We will come out on the other side of this battle stronger, more aware of His power, and filled with hope for better days ahead.
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God promises to lead us and to restore our soul.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” (Psalm 23:1-4)
God gives us so many promises in these powerful verses. He leads and guides us. He's always with us. And we can feel safe under His protective care. He knows where true rest and blessing are found and leads us there.
- He restores
- He refreshes
- He brings peace and goodness
- He leads us to walk in His ways
- He draws us to stay close and to follow Him.
Though life is uncertain, and we may suffer with illness, loss, or pain, our God of comfort—our Lord who holds all power over death and disease—walks with us always. He is the only one who can take us by the hand through life's darkest moments of suffering, bring us freedom and healing from the pain of this life, and lead us straight into glory and the hope of heaven that He has reserved for us. We never have to fear, in life or in death, for He is with us—our constant strength and shepherd.
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The Lord is the giver of peace, so we don’t have to be afraid.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
Some days are anything but peaceful. We’re busy, stressed, and battling misunderstandings, or things just aren't going the way we thought they would or should. Add to that the pressure of all the news and world events, or the troubles all around, and it can seem heavy for our hearts and spirits.
But even there, in all the darkness and uncertainty that swirls around us in this world, His truth whispers to our hearts these same powerful words that Christ spoke to His disciples; words that bring assurance, hope, peace, and the reminder that we’re never alone and do not need to walk in fear or worry.
"Peace (security, safety) I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world (earthly affairs, those separated by Christ) gives. Do not let your hearts (soul, mind, center of life) be troubled (disturbed, anxious, terrified) and do not be afraid (fearful, timid)." John 14:27
May God fill us with peace and rest in the deepest part of our souls. All our wrestling, all the stress we so often carry, is useless. We can trust that He will take care of whatever concerns us. He knows the best way; His timing is perfect. And He is able. He's the storm-calmer, the peace-giver, the burden-lifter, the hope-bringer. Nothing is too difficult for Him.
For He alone is our peace.
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Debbie McDaniel is a writer, pastor's wife, mom to three amazing kids (and a lot of pets). Join her each morning on Fresh Day Ahead's Facebook page, for daily encouragement in living strong, free, hope-filled lives. Find her also on Twitter and at her blog www.debbiemcdaniel.com.
Design Credit: Rachel Dawson
Originally published Wednesday, 19 June 2019.
