Understanding God’s way —  helps when our hope fades by our exclusion of His power. On our own, our efforts exhaust us. We don’t need to smile when we are tired, we need to seek God and His comfort.  Without genuine faith, we will never please God. Faith that does please God has substance. It is substantial by the fact that we perceive that which is not seen! Awareness of He who is greater, we trust that God knows our bones, the very frame into which He deposited the eternal. The Holy Spirit rejoices in our earnest surrender.  He cuddles the weary who seek God with their tired and broken heart. He works in us to transform the desires of our heart so that they line up with the content of our Father’s heart. Choosing to love God even in the firey furnace pleases the ONE who ALWAYS provides, who NEVER departs.  Following Jesus is NOT about being invincible. It is about knowing we are never alone.  Our Father wants to take us to green pastures, not to deep oceans of responsibility. Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Choosing rest without guilt, is to be obedient to God’s bidding.

God’s presence is sufficient even in the silently weeping soul. “My eyes have grown dim with grief; my whole frame is but a shadow. My days have passed, my plans are shattered. Yet the DESIRES of my heart turn night into day; in the face of the darkness, LIGHT is near.” Our Father does NOT expect us to bear our burdens alone, He begs us to cry out, that He might draw more near to us. We can not serve Him without the loving intimacy that Jesus desires. Do we pray out of obligation, or out of genuine adoration with tears flowing? God waits for us to prioritize time with Him — out of love. Jesus withdrew from the crowds to rest. Our Creator does not move through our theology, our Savior moves through our needy cardiology. He delights to change us into His image, according to the biography He wrote about us before He even knit us together. Like the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, listen to hear the Master’s voice. Even when despondent or weary, we reply aptly. “Did not our heart burn within us, while He talks to us by the way.” Hear Jesus say, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” The wide road to hell is like rush hour with all lanes filled with weary travelers. Rest and relief is in the exit just ahead. Welcome to His peace.

Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.” Begin to develop your faith by remembering all that God has already done. Wait on God, and move toward Him on difficult days, and in every waking moment, He will order your steps. God has brought you this far, and He will finish what He initiated as we walk by Faith. Speak to any fear with authority. Focus on Jesus, and know assuredly that God is still moving. He welcomes you to rest in Him. He will make you rise like an Eagle as soon as you surrender. The proof that God cares for us is that we woke up, and we still have oxygen in our lungs! Every breath is hope for more of what He has in store for us. When we have no words to pray, the Spirit of God interceds on our behalf. God’s promises liberate us to once again believe in the complete restoration in His arms. His grace is sufficient in our weakness. Our frailty is a testament to His strength. Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 23 “Even though I walkthrough the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Thank You, Lord for Your peace.