Hebrews 4:9 "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."
"I'm tired Boss. Mostly, I'm tired of people being ugly to each
other," You probably recognize that line from the movie, "The
Green Mile." The giant of a man was just ready to leave this world. There
are times when we probably can all identify with that statement. We get
tired physically. We get tired emotionally. There are times when it seems our
faith may even begin to waver. What is it that makes us tired? Of
course, we know the physical tiredness comes from over exertion of the body.
But can we see that emotional tiredness comes from an over exertion of our
minds and likewise, a wavering faith can come from an approach to life that
says, "We must fix every problem that we encounter." Then we
realize, we can't do that. One person referred to that attitude as being a
"Fix-it Fox." I know as a pastor, I have been discouraged more than
once because I could not fix a situation. I felt like I had failed. Maybe I
didn't pray hard enough for someone to get better. Maybe I didn't do everything
that I could have done to make it better. The result of that type of
thinking is two-fold. One, you get tired emotionally and the other is a
wavering faith. It isn't a wavering faith in God's ability; rather, a wavering
faith that says, "I should have believed more strongly."
What's the answer to emotional and spiritual tiredness? My answer is going to
be very simple and straightforward, but I've found it to be true. "Stop
trying to fix everything that you think is wrong." And just how can we do
that? I'm glad I asked. We can find it in God's Word. Paul realized
that to be the case when he quoted from the Psalms, "For we are made
partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto
the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your
hearts, as in the provocation." (Hebrews 3:14-15) The answer comes in
listening for, and to, the Word of God as He speaks to our hearts. The answer
comes by being pliable in the hands of the living God. The answer comes in
hearing the voice of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Then the answer comes in
following His instructions, which many times simply says, "Be still
(rest), and know that I am God." In other words, put it in the hands
of the Lord and wait for Him to be the One Who gives the answer. I close with
the promise of access that we have been given.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
(Hebrews 4:9, 16)
If the world from you withholds of its silver and its gold
And you have to get along with meager fare
Just remember, in his word, how he feeds the little bird
Take your burden to the Lord, leave it there