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"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.  On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God." 

~ Psalm 62:5-7

 

Rest…we all long for rest of some sort or another.  In fact, we even busy ourselves seeking to fill up our schedule with rest.  In the midst of the fast pace of our lives, with pressures both internally and externally to get things done, we find ourselves burning out.  We are weary.  But yet, we also find it hard to slow down or even remember how. 

And perhaps even worse, in the words of musician Dave Radford ("Rest" by The Gray Havens), we are “Livin’ in the world...cripples in the clutches of counterfeit crutches, [believing that we] matter about as much as we’re doing today.”

Instead, our souls should be finding rest in God alone (v. 1-2,5-7), praying and singing, “Father bless your name, let your kingdom come, give me eyes, help me see and believe your Son, give me faith, let me rest in the work he’s done…cause the work is done.” ("Rest" by The Gray Havens)

The cross work of Jesus Christ is done (John 19:30; Hebrews 1:3)!  He has died once for all (1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:24-28; Hebrews 10:10; Romans 6:10).  He has secured our rest (Hebrews 3:7-4:11).  Jesus says to us, “Come all who labor and are heavy laden.  I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

Jesus is our identity...you matter because of him and HIS work!  This is our one and only hope.  Praise God that "Once [He] has spoken; twice [we] have heard this: that power belongs to God, and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love." (v.11-12a)