Sometimes there are problems which seem insurmountable; problems of our own making. For me, the things over which I have no control are easier to bear. “It hurts, but what can be done?” There is a little solace in that. What makes life irreconcilably dismal is failure in those matters of personal responsibility. “It hurts, and I could have prevented it.” Not much comfort can be found in such a conclusion. Sin. We might try to soften things up a bit; “At least I’m not the only one” or, “I’m only human.” Those clichés don’t change reality. Even the no-account is accountable. The gospel is wonderful, because it holds the promise of well being and happiness no matter how deep our troubles may be.

If we will allow it, hope can touch the darkest recesses of our doubts and sorrows. “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). Somebody can change the unchangeable. There is an answer for the impossible. What to us may be sorrow and complexity beyond repair is to Jesus a matter easily managed. Jesus is ever-present to reconcile and redeem. He promises rest.

Rest. It has a good sound. Our sins are such a burden. Even after all the sedatives; chemical, musical, cinematic, or social, the burden presses worse than cancer. True alleviation is possible through God’s good will. “For it pleased the Father that in Him (Jesus) all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” (Colossians 1:19-20). This “fullness” in Jesus is the complete attitude and action of God to save our souls. He has prepared a way for our peace. Peace is the foundation of rest. The condition of peace was made by Jesus through His blood. He endured our burden of sin on Calvary in order to replace it with comfort in the mercy of God. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27). These words are constituted on the sacrifice of His life. Rest is real. Rest is now. “Now is the day of salvation.” Whether we kneel in our closet to pour out our need, or we go down into the water for God’s cleansing power, the Prince of Peace knocks at our door.

Peace has a future, everlasting rest. Death has been conquered, and so we shall conquer. “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (I Corinthians 15:51-52). There is a new world ahead. “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (II Peter 3:13). A promise of preparation has been made, preparation for us to have a place in that new world. “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2). The prospect of rest for the here and now stretches out into eternity.

Here we have some work to do. The peace which passes understanding has to be lived. Even in this Jesus promised His comforting presence. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me.” It is evident that “. . .we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10). This is a life of purpose. Thanks to God the task is not given without the means to accomplish it. The testimony of Paul; “And He (Jesus) said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (II Corinthians 12:9). Because our ability is based upon the power of Christ, it is not a matter of what we imagine. In our imagination we either place unrealistic pressures on what we should achieve, or we pretend we have very little to do. It is Christ who gives definition to our works. Through His power and the scriptures, we understand little by little the undertaking and we find the strength to do it. However, after taking up the responsibility to follow Jesus, we sometimes fail and are faced with perplexities. The Lord has provided for this as well. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16).

God has covered every base. There is not an issue in our lives beyond His aid and power. Sometimes we sleep so deeply, the awareness of our need is anesthetized. So the words of Jesus will mean little. But for “those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. . . they shall be filled.” The promise of rest sounds like music to the ears of those who know their burden. This is hope. Jesus, the meek and lowly in heart, understands us better than we understand ourselves. He knows exactly what we need and how to make it happen. The thing that remains is to place our trust in Jesus and come to Him. For those who do so there is an abundance of praise and glory “. . . to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. . .” (Ephesians 3:20).