We’ve spent time this week examining some things that cause us anxiety and acknowledging that Jesus is the answer for all of them. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus reminds us to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first, and our worries will be addressed and cared for. So why is this so difficult for us to do? The reasons vary for each of us, and warrant self-examination. And the world will point to many different remedies for our anxious hearts. Still, Jesus is our “Prince of Peace” as prophesied in Isaiah 9:6.
I love meditating on the Matthew 11:28-30 passage from The Message: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me, and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Religion points to performance. Do this to achieve that. But Jesus’ way is simple. Seek Him. When the cares of life are heavy, let’s allow God to teach us to look for His “unforced rhythms of grace.” Fear steals our joy, our peace, and our rest. It assails us, even during the night. When we truly trust what God is doing and lean into him for comfort and understanding, we will experience a lifting of our burdens and find His grace is sufficient for anything we face.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27