Being stressed is so stressful. Nothing causes anxiety like anxiety. Jesus said, “Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus wants us to experience rest (peace) on the inside, not stress. I don’t mean that there won’t be pressure situations all around you, or that you want be surrounded by stressful situations on the surface of your lives. What I am saying is that, even though there may be great storms on the surface of the ocean, deep down below the surface there is great calm.
Jesus gave us many promises and one of them is that in this world you SHALL have tribulation. I trust all of us have experienced the fulfillment of that promise. In light of that promise, Jesus added, “be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” OKAYaaa? That’s good news? It’s nice to know Jesus overcame the world, but I would be much more cheery if I knew how I could overcome the world. Here is the connection. The one who overcame the world lives in you, and will do it again as He lives His life and faces the things that make up your life, through you. Nothing you will face today, or any day, is threatening to Him.
Rest in His shared ability. You don’t have to know how it’s going to work in any situation, you just have to rest in the One who is at work in every situation.