Happily Made to Rest

“Beloved, come to Me and rest in My sufficiency. Stop trying to fix yourself by focusing on your failures. Remember that the world you inhabit is fallen, and you are part of that brokenness. You can no more practice My presence perfectly than you can save yourself from your sins. In a fallen world, all your default settings are attained by sin. Nonetheless, you are being transformed and renewed by My Spirit within you.
Collaborate with Me as I work to set you free from hurtful ways. View each moment as a fresh opportunity to draw near Me. I welcome you with open arms.”

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way. - Psalm 139:23-24

Also…

“Do not feel guilty about taking time to be still in My Presence. You are simply responding to the tugs of divinity within you. I made you in My image, and I hid Heaven in your heart.”

Suffering to Bless

“Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is within you, with meekness and fear;” ~ 1 Peter 3:8-15

Its easier to think God loves us more on our wedding day than on the day we get divorced, more on the day we have our first child than the day we have to bury it earlier than expected, more when we get the job than when we are let go, more when we are winning than we are losing. The way we think He loves us on our wedding days and winning days is the way He loves us in every moment of our lives.

The suffering that we think we have been dragged through was far worse for Christ who suffered for us. He was beaten, hated, criticized, all of those in a way that no human could understand. I believe finally being killed was probably the least of all the sufferings Christ went through during the 33 year span of His life on earth. How dare we be angry at Him for our rainy days…

Sometimes the righteous suffer because of their righteousness, and then the enemy wins when they spend all their energy fighting it instead of utilizing it for the Kingdom. Our suffering could be the ultimate blessing to our lives and the lives we touch. We are called to blessing, regardless of circumstances.