Jesus offers peace, hope, rest!

Jesus said…

“Come to me, all you 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.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

The world is in a turmoil today:

  • War has displaced more people today than all of World War II did.
  • Nations are threatening to bomb each other with nuclear weapons.
  • Gangs walk the streets of our large cities looking for victims and rival gangs.
  • Gunmen open fire on innocent crowds, and terrorists bomb marketplaces.

Do you ever get tired of it all? Would you like to find a haven where you could relax and be at peace? The world has nothing like that to offer.

You won’t find rest:

  • by buying a beach-side property in a scenic place like Hawaii
  • by moving to an isolated spot like the Falkland Islands
  • by taking another drink at the bar
  • by smoking another joint before bedtime
  • by watching porn.
  • by devoting yourself to causes like human rights and pro-life promotion.

However, you can find inner peace and rest by accepting Jesus’ invitation in the verses quoted above. This peace will take you through the tough times that life brings upon you. It will give you hope in your heart, because it gives you something to live for despite the depressing scenarios daily life may bring your way.

An Illustration Of Peace

In 1873, Horatio Spafford learned that his four daughters (ages 2, 5, 9 and 11) had died in a shipwreck on their way to England. He took the next ship across the Atlantic to join his wife, who had survived the wreck. One day, during the voyage, the ship’s captain came to him. He told Mr. Spafford they were passing over the spot where his daughters lay. He went to his cabin and wrote these lyrics.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Chorus

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

I’m sure it was a tough time for Mr. Spafford. But he recognized that his joy and his hope lay in his relationship with God, not in his circumstances.

The Bible refers to God various times as “the God of peace.” If you come to Jesus and accept the yoke He offers you, the God of peace will give you peace, hope and rest. All the turmoil in the world cannot take this from you.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:7)