Freedom Fridays

Coffee Hour @ Chicklit Power...

It’s another fantastic Friday! Grab your coffee, your strand of faith and a journal too! You’ll want to jot down some notes from this one as Jennifer continues to share from her heart to yours her freedom journey!

Rest

Last week I shared that I am a Martha, a doer that sometimes never rests.  For me rest always means napping or slacking off but recently I have learned a new definition:  Rest, to me, now means to be at peace no matter what the circumstances are. 

It’s not a stopping of doing; it’s a knowing.  Let me illustrate.

The story of Jesus calming the storm is told in three if the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

Jesus had been teaching near the Sea of Galilee. When He was done He decided to take a boat to the opposite shore where there were no large towns (Mark 4:35–36). Not long after they sailed, Jesus fell asleep and a storm arose (Luke 8:23).  Then the disciples on board with Him were afraid and thought they would die (Luke 8:24). 

My first thought when I read this is that this must have been a really bad storm. The disciples that were most likely with Him were trained and professional fisherman.  This was not their first storm. Imagine these big men scared and freaking out while Jesus is sound asleep. 

I think that Jesus was at rest….the sleep of a believer will be sweet and peaceful because he knows the Lord is with him (Proverbs 3:24; Psalm 4:8). This is why Jesus asked the disciples the question “Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

I don’t know about you, but my faith is not always 100% so I understand where they were coming from.  The truth we need to realize is that if Jesus was able to calm the storm, He is also able to rescue us from the storms of everyday life: sickness, job loss, marriage problems, and even the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:55).

We were never promised a perfect and peaceful life; in fact, we were told that we would experience difficulties (John 16:33).

True rest is this: knowing He has your back when everything is coming at you and/or after you.  True rest is knowing/believing He is always with us.  True rest is letting go of worry.  True rest is sleeping in the midst of the storm because you have complete confidence that He won’t let you drown (Deuteronomy 31:8; James 1:12).

Resting,

Jennifer