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Rest in Jesus

What to do when trials come? Rest.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

  - Matthew 11.28

Let us pray to Christ in our times of fear and hurt, that we may be granted relief.

  - The Rule of Comghall, Irish, 6th century[1]

In our recent Scriptorium series on the book of Revelation (all 13 studies are available for free by clicking here) we saw that tribulation – trials of various sorts – are simply what we can expect in these last days before Jesus returns.

Jesus promised that we would have trials and troubles in the world, so it’s no wonder we feel heavy laden at times (Jn. 16.33); so we do well to learn how to recognize and respond to them.

What are our options when trials befall us, especially those that hurt or engender fear?

We can draw back and cower in isolation from life. We could get angry and look for someone to blame. We might whine and complain and feel sorry for ourselves. Or we could just hold on tight and hope for the best.

All of which most of us have probably done at one time or another.

But Jesus has another recommendation, and Comghall had learned it well: Go to Him. Come before His exalted throne and meditate on the beauty of His face, the glory of His presence, the splendor of His might and power and radiance, and the certainty of His steadfast love and faithfulness.

The life of peace and joy, even in the face of adversity or tribulation, draws its strength and staying power from the vision of Jesus, exalted in glory – to see Him in His beauty and might, and to hear His words of presence, promise, and provision. Here, focusing on Jesus, drawing close to Jesus, resting in Jesus – here is where we discover the secret to full and abundant life, come what may.

Wait on Jesus in prayer, “look full in His glorious face,” open your whole heart to Him, and pour out all your hurt and fear, your anger and resentment. He welcomes it. And He can bear it.

Indeed, He receives it all as a gift, which He will take off your shoulders and place around His, making your burden easy and illuminating your life with His light and love.

Circumstances change. Situations and people change. Few things stay the same for very long. But Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever; He’s always waiting for us to come to Him in His heavenly court and empty ourselves into His love.

Why, we even have a reserved seat there with Him (Eph. 2.6).

In the presence of Jesus you will know rest and relief. There you will encounter fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. Why fuss and fume and fret and flee and flail and flounder when trials ensue? Go to Jesus and wait before Him until He catches you up in His glory and fills you with His rest.

Psalm 3.7, 8 (Eventide: “Abide with Me”)
Rise up, O Lord, rise up and rescue me!
Let all my foes destroyed and routed be!
Grace and salvation, Lord, are yours alone;
Bless and protect all those You call Your own.

Lord, always remind me that I can bring my pain and sorrow, my fears and doubts, my sins and my griefs to You.

The Hidden Life
Do you know that your life has been hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3.3)? I’m sure you know that intellectually. But do you know it really? Do you experience what it is to participate in God by being in Jesus Christ?

We’ve prepared a series of meditative exercises designed to help you experience this hidden life with new power and peace. The Hidden Life provides 16 devotional exercises, beginning with a poem, then a contemplation, and ending with a psalm to sing. Here’s the poem that begins exercise 6:

Whatever are your daily burdens, or
wherever your endeavors may require
you to be found, let there be nothing higher
sustaining you than this one thing; when sore
oppression threatens, battering at your door,
wild trouble at his side, though they conspire
to tear you down or bog you in the mire
of cruel affliction, look to nothing more
than this one thing; when tears and crying pour
out from you, brought on by the many dire
and woeful circumstances that breathe fire
at your wellbeing, shelter on this shore:
  Haste to the presence of the Lord to gaze
  upon His beauty, meditate, and praise.

Order your copy of The Hidden Life by clicking here.

As always, we appreciate your prayers and gifts. God supports this ministry from among those who are served by it (Ps. 20.1, 2). We hope that, if you find our resources helpful in your walk with the Lord, you seek Him about sharing with us. You can click here to donate online with your credit card or through PayPal, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.


[1]Ó Maidín, p. 33.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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