Restless. We’ve all felt the mix of anxiousness and discontentment. Certainly, seasons of change can produce this restlessness in our bones. Nothing seems to settle our souls because we cannot stop long enough to rest.
When we focus on our fear we are giving permission for it to reign. I don’t know about you, but that sounds like an exercise in misery. Yet, I know I’ve run that misery marathon a time or two.
Why is it that we lean into our fears when we could be leaning into the arms of the everlasting God?
While we may be creatures prone to restlessness, our Savior is the giver of rest. We must lay down our desire for control in order to receive the blessing of peace. Releasing our worries to a Father who cares is the truest form of trust.
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4
The phrase everlasting rock provides such comfort to me. He steadies us when we feel the sands shifting beneath us. He does not move from His character. He is eternally good and true. We can rely on Him and we can rely on Him forever.
Our Lord gives rest to the restless. Hallelujah! We need not stress ourselves over things beyond our control. However, we must deny fear the right to control our thoughts. We must take every thought captive!
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5
We cannot expect peace or rest if our brains are abuzz with fear and worry. No! First we must submit our desire for control and lay our concerns at God’s feet. Then, we must submit our thought life. Lastly, we must make room in our hearts for gratitude. Fear has no place in the light of God’s glorious strength and goodness.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Praise God, He is patient with us. He is the antidote to fear. He is the rest in the midst of our restlessness. He is our everlasting rock. Solid. Strong. Secure.
Forever.
