Come Unto Him – For Rest

Does this time of year bring with it confusion, procrastination, overly-full plates, or maybe all of the above? If you answered yes to any or all,  you are not alone.

I think we all get caught up in the I-must-find-the-perfect-gift syndrome. I admit being guilty of this. It’s a special time of year and we want the gifts we give to be meaningful and appreciated. So, we try our best to find that one thing that will make the day special.

To that end, are we robbing ourselves of the true meaning of the season? Are we robbing others of that same thing?

THE STORM

I’ll admit, the past week has been a rough one. I won’t go into specifics, but the holidays are stressful enough without having bad news of any kind added to the mix.

This is when it’s time to just take a deep breath, relax, and spend some time with the One who was born to bring joy, peace, love, salvation, and rest to a fallen world.

Sometimes that isn’t easy.

Again, I’ll admit I failed miserably at all of the above. Instead of turning immediately to Jesus, I took my emotional self on my typical roller coaster ride of ups and downs, twists and turns, to the point of almost having a breakdown.

MY REACTION

Okay.

So, I had a breakdown.

But, even while learning the bad news, of having my feelings hurt, I should have made it my default to turn to God . . . first.

Instead, I turned inward . . . and outward.

It wasn’t pretty.

Come Unto Him for Rest @DDuPreeWilliams #faith #Rest Share on X

CALM PREVAILS

Given a day or two to calm down, to spend some time in God’s Word, and to seek Him through prayer, I’m back where I should have been from the beginning—in the arms of my Father, the One who loves me in good times and bad. Who forgives me when I fail to turn to Him first and who wants me to lay it at the foot of the cross and let Him carry the burdens far too heavy for me.

Friends, wherever you are this season, remember to take all your worries, no matter how big or small, to the One who loves you beyond measure. Don’t try to fix things or carry them on your human shoulders. Give it to God.

Remember the words of Jesus . . . Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV).

He is there for us. This is one of the many reasons He was born—to carry our burdens and our sorrows. Remember, He did this for us at the cross. Frankly, I can’t have Christmas in my mind and heart without looking forward to His work on the cross. And beyond that to His resurrection.

Turn to Jesus and remember His words when the days get tough. No matter the season. He is the best place to find rest for our weary souls.

Blessings, y’all!

I hope this blesses you. This is me singing “Come Unto Him” from Handel’s Messiah, many years ago, well over 30 years. When I hear recordings of me, it brings tears to my eyes that God blessed me with this gift. I never took it for granted, and I always, always knew it was a gift. I prayed before singing, asking God to reach just one through the song. Soli Deo Gloria.