In the Word: The Source of Our Rest
Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. It is our desire that this series will aid you in getting in the Bible for yourself and discovering the joy that comes from hearing from God through the pages of His Word.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
READ:
There is only one God, the One whose nature, attributes, and character are revealed in the Bible.
There is only one God who is capable of rushing His people into His presence at death. There is only one God who created people out of the overflow of His own perfect joy and for His own pleasure. There is only one God to whom all people belong, who has full rights to us in every way. He does not exist in our imaginations.
We who believe know this. Yet, at least for my heart, becoming sidetracked is easy. He is quite apart from you and me. He is not the God of my making. And I am not at the “center of His universe.” He created me to know Him as the center of my life. All creation exists to glorify Him. All people depend upon Him; thankfully, He does not depend upon us. He is who He is, unchanging from eternity past to eternity future. There is but one existing God who is all-controlling, all-knowing, all-powerful, infinite, good, perfect, living, true, and more.
This incredible God is the God of my rest. He made me to intrinsically benefit from His nature and character, though He did not owe this to mankind. He graciously is the giver of peace and rest.
- I feel at rest this instant to remember that I am not in control.
I do not need to “hold it all together.” I do not need to map out this journey of grief that still is ahead of me. I do not need to be in control because He is in control. And He is in control not because I want Him to be or because I asked Him to be or because I decided He was. He is. He is. He undergirds my very existence and He substantiates my being during every minute of life. When I declare Him sovereign in my life, it is a statement of submission to the reality that already exists, not a statement of permission that I could give to Him. Exhale. He is in control. Rest. - I feel rest this very minute to be reminded that I do not give my child’s life her meaning.
I do not need to search for meaning within myself or within the world to feel purpose for my daughter’s life. Further, I do not need to be the one to give meaning to my child’s life who has gone ahead of me. I do not need to attempt supplying or creating meaning because God already has. All things are for Him; all people—made in His image—exist for His glory. My daughter and I are alive for the purpose of His worship and joy. This magnificent God of all beautiful perfection—I get to exist for Him and my child gets to exist for Him. Exhale. He is the meaning of my life and my child’s life. This puts into context my remembrance of my daughter. What is done in her memory—this is all a reflection and celebration of the joyful meaning that my child already deeply and completely has in God. Rest. - I feel rest this very minute to be reminded that though sorrow may have clouded my view of God, He has not removed His mercy from me.
My thoughts could never diminished who He is and who He desires to be to His people. For I have had difficulty remembering His goodness. Yet, for how my view of God has been limited in grief, He gives me His great mercy through Christ—dealing wonderfully with me. Though it has been difficult to remember or love His goodness, I also know and trust He is not any less good today than He was ten years ago or will be ten years from now.
Will you see the rest this moment in knowing that He is in control, that He is the meaning of your child’s life, and that He is unchanging?
REFLECT:
- How does Isaiah 14:24 inform our understanding of God’s sovereign control over our lives?
- What can we learn from Psalm 100:3 about the value God has placed on our lives?
- Psalm 102:25-27 tell us of God’s unchanging nature. How can we rest in the truths held within this verses?
JOURNAL:
Spend some time writing out a list of the attributes of God. As you reflect on the goodness and beauty of His character, thank Him for being a place of rest for you in the midst of your sorrow.
We would be honored to share your story as a Hope Mom on our blog. On Saturdays we feature Hope Moms’ stories in order to showcase God’s faithfulness even in the midst of such deep sorrow. If you would like to have your story shared on our blog for this purpose, learn more and submit here.
Got something to say?