We often forget that the world and its troubles are much to great for us to handle on our own. Our efforts to control and manipulate only leave us wearied and frustrated. Many of us comfort our disappointments with a new outfit, a brand new car, a new relationship or a job change.
Yet, we still live with a gnawing dissatisfaction inside of us. Wondering if this is really all there is to life.
"I'm pursuing my dreams. I have a big house, a husband with a great job, we say to ourselves," but our hearts are not at rest.
We live for the next big thing. We long for a better, different life. We bury our hurt and pain. We self-medicate, put on a happy face and make it seem as if we've got it all together. Until, the dam breaks and the waters of insecurity, discouragement, failure and disappointment come rushing out.
This infects everyone around us as the waters come gushing out. Often times the ones we love the most. We ruin and wreck relationships. We cause turmoil in our lives, telling ourselves, "I'm not going to do that anymore," but we just can't seem to stop. We know it's not good for us, but we keep repeating the same cycle. We feel broken, but we don't want anyone to know.
We wander on lonely roads of hopelessness. Seeking restoration, a brighter future and a happy life. Everyone tells us to just "look inside ourselves" or "tell yourself that you're number one", but the more we do this, the deeper our dissatisfaction grows. We don't even really like ourselves. All we see when we look inside ourselves is fear and deep insecurities.
Maybe that means we need to start looking outside ourselves. Maybe the cure to a heart troubled by life worries is to look to something greater than ourselves? Maybe real hope and joy isn't found in our circumstances, but in something that is constant in joy, and holds the key to life and peace.
A wise man once said, "come to me all who are weary and heaven burden and I will give you rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light'. He also said, "I came that they may have life and that they may have it to the full".
The reason this man is able to offer rest is because His nature is different from ours. He is peace. He is joy. He is hope. He is freedom.
If I cling to this source of peace and joy I will find rest for my weary soul.
Jesus Christ is that man. He is calling unto you today to run with courage towards Him. To turn away from your own way of living and towards His life. It's there that our lives finally find rest. We can sit in contentment as we find wholeness and healing, freedom and joy!
We must recognize that our way of living is wrong. His way is right, come into agreement with God, confess that to Him, turn away from it, and choose to embrace Jesus Christ as master of our life.
That is where true freedom is found, hallelujah!
