"Enemies of Rest"
EPISODE 59
Find Peace Through Life’s Chaos
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When our daughter was a baby, few things were as sweet as that moment she slipped off to sleep in our arms. Then we'd put her gently into her crib and try to keep the house as quiet as possible to avoid waking her up.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).
We can hardly call our modern lives, "restful." Instead, we're active, busy, driven, overloaded, overworked, and frazzled. So the call of Jesus to find rest in him seems ever more appealing in light of our current situation. Let's look at a few enemies of rest — the noise of life that disturbs our sense of peace.
Distractions of Success
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matt. 16:25).
The push for success drives the American dream. But where are you headed as you climb that corporate ladder? What will you achieve that will transfer into eternity? The pursuit of earthly prosperity should never be more important than the pursuit of eternal wealth and rest (Matt. 6:24).
Pride and Covetousness
"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you" (John 13:14-15).
There's always someone better — always someone who has more. Yet sometimes we push ourselves to the front of the line and chase after the things we don't have. It's a never-ending cycle. But Jesus shows us the peace that meekness, humility, and simple living bring to the believer (Matt. 6:25-34; 1 Tim. 6:6-10).
Troubled Relationships
"Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Rom. 12:17-18).
There may be no single more significant threat to rest than ongoing discord with those closest to us. It's hard to focus on anything else. We may not be able to change the heart of a friend or family member who's angry with us, but we can choose to forgive and make peace with them (Matt. 5:23-24).
"Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling," — but the world is frantically waving its hands. Look forward to that eternal rest with God, and find comfort through your present chaos. "... Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest" (Psalm 55:6).
