“Return to your rest, oh my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.”
–Psalm 116:7-8 (NKJV)

Remember the story of the woman at the well? When she saw something special about Jesus, and he made reference to living water, she asked Jesus for some water so she wouldn’t have to come out and draw from the well. While this may seem amusing at first glance, drawing from the well was hard work that we know nothing about in these days of running water.

Jesus was using the fact that the woman was tired and thirsty, so that he could talk about the spiritual rest that she needed. He went on to tell her that if she drank of the well’s water she would thirst again, as he pointed to the sinful lifestyle which he was trying to take refuge in.

For all of us, the well is a symbol of the world, and of the pleasures that it offers. These pleasures only provide temporary satisfaction. We may not have experienced sin to the same degree as the woman at the well, but all of us have found pleasure in straying from God’s path at one time or another. The Bible says that there is pleasure in sin for a season, and we try to find it in things like money, food, and the gratifying of our lusts. Like the woman at the well, we try to take refuge in these pleasures, only to find that they are like quicksand. When we come to our senses, we wonder why life seems so meaningless and empty. We may even ask God why we can’t experience lasting joy.

Just as the psalmist said, we need to let our souls return to God’s rest. But you may be asking, “How do I do that?” Well, let me offer four suggestions within the word “REST” that might help you.

First of all, REFLECT upon the emptiness of our lives in the light of God’s Word, for Jesus said that he came to give us a full and abundant life. You may feel like you are drifting today, but God has a wonderful plan for your life. The Bible says that He can take the worst situation and bring good out of it, and my wife and I have seen Him do this in our own lives.

The next step is to ENTER into what God has for you by drawing closer to Him. This may seem foreign to you, but the Bible says that if we draw near to God, He will draw close to us.

As you enter into His presence, you will begin to SURRENDER more and more of your life to Him. You will see the emptiness of your worldly life, as well as the fullness God has planned for you, so give yourself fully to God’s plan. As you do this, you will experience a new dimension of God’s peace and joy.

Finally, TRUST Him as you go about your business. Even when the road seems rocky, you will find that He will make the impossible possible.

So whether you have invited God into your life for the first time, or you are returning to Him, Jesus is calling you to experience His rest today.

Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You may also send your donation to http://www.gofundme.com/tznwnc. Finally, you can send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 377 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 260, Placentia, CA 92870.

If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 641-715-3900, ext. 874157.