Peace Beyond Measure

How do we come unto Him?  To me, the coming is in creating stillness in my mind and heart so I can hear God’s voice.  It is entering into my personal “wilderness” to have quiet moments of personal worship to connect with God.  It is pouring out my whole soul in prayer and expressing to God the deepest yearnings of my heart.

The coolness of the morning air energizes my body and fills my lungs as my feet steadily pound the asphalt.  I stop and take in the captivating, gentle sound of the stream swirling and gurgling over the rocks. I realize now, in the stillness of the moment, the sweet chorus of birds singing their unique melodies in the spring canopy towering above me.  The white leaves gracing the branches of a tree, still hanging on from the past fall, add a feeling of magic. I marvel at the scene and feel my soul calm. I feel more centered and at peace than when I began.

I am learning practices that help to center my soul.  That focus of my senses on the steadiness, stillness, and the magic of moments.  It helps me experience greater rest in Christ.

I am realizing through the pain of change over the past year, that my soul needs daily practices of centering.  Being still — carving out time and space to quiet my mind for God to teach and calm me– is understanding what true rest to my spirit feels like.  It is part of the healing process.

I long for these quiet moments more frequently in my life, but they are more heavily juxtaposed with experiences that feel tiring and demanding.  

You may be experiencing something similar.  Those days, weeks, (or maybe years?) that seem like an uphill battle to get alone time, without someone needing you?  This was one of those weeks for me. With a sick baby, family visiting, a potty training toddler, late nights and early mornings, and a husband gone much of the time with a demanding job.  I have felt like I’m grasping at thin air to create space to do those things my spirit needs most. Those things that help me experience Christ’s rest.

I was empty and exhausted as I woke one morning and needed to be refueled.  I had the impression to plan out my day spiritually in prayer. To write down the things I needed most to feel and do that day to feel more centered. To ask the Lord to teach me how and bless my efforts.  

As I knelt and prayed, the Spirit helped me to see ways I could go about my day with greater intention to accomplish the things that would fill my soul.

I believe the statement in Hebrews 4:11, that we must “labour, therefore, to enter into that rest.”

It seems slightly counter-intuitive to have to labor to enter into a state of rest, but I’m learning that the labor is putting our time and attention into those things that matter most.  By coming to the Lord and allowing the Holy Spirit to help us discern between those things that are essential and necessary or just nice-to-do.

I am learning how this principle of receiving Christ’s rest can help me each day.  Even as I’ve been writing this article, I’ve thought multiple times, “Really?  Can I even write something like this?  I feel exhausted all of the time.”

But as I’ve been pondering Christ’s rest this week, my faith in the following promise has felt so true and attainable to me.  

Christ calls to us, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11: 28-30).

“The Peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) is something Christ yearns to give to me and to you.

I love the wisdom of Sharon Eubank in this thought.

“When expectations overwhelm us, we can step back and ask Heavenly Father what to let go of. Part of our life experience is learning what not to do. But even so, sometimes life can be exhausting… Christ is willing to join with us in the yoke and pull in order to lighten our burdens. Christ is rest.” (Sharon Eubank, Christ: The Light that Shines in Darkness)

How can we truly enter into the rest of Christ?  That rest which promises peace beyond measure. That which only the Prince of Peace can authentically and fully provide for us.

I am learning that I enter into Christ’s rest through my trust in Him.  Christ can handle the burdens I am carrying. He can lighten my load so that I cannot even feel it upon my back.  Or He can deliver me from the burden if it is His will.

He invites me to come unto Him, take upon His yoke, and learn of Him so that I can receive His rest.  

How do we come unto Him?  To me, the coming is in creating stillness in my mind and heart so I can hear God’s voice.  It is entering into my personal “wilderness” to have quiet moments of personal worship to connect with God.  It is pouring out my whole soul in prayer and expressing to God the deepest yearnings of my heart.

In the words of Jeffrey R. Holland:

“It seems to me that the essence of our lives is distilled down to these two brief elements in these opening scenes of the Savior’s mortal ministry. One element is the question, to every one of us, ‘What seek ye? What do you want?’ The second is his answer as to how to get that. Whoever we are, and whatever our problems, his response is always the same, forever: ‘Come unto me.’ Come see what I do and how I spend my time. Learn of me, follow me, and in the process I will give you answers to your prayers and rest to your souls.” (Holland, Jeffery R. (1997) Come Unto Me,  CES fireside, BYU)

Coming to Christ is not a one time experience.  It is a journey and it is a daily choice to believe in Him.  To repent and ask for Him to help us change our view of ourselves, others, and God.  It is making room in our life to hear that still small voice teach us what is true.

What is His yoke?  Taking upon Christ’s yoke means to take His work, His will, and His name upon us.  

Christ shares,  “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7). It is a choice to remember Him and to become more united in thought, word, and deed with Him.  To “cast [my] burdens on the Lord”, and trust that He will sustain me (Ps. 55:22). To “walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6). To learn of the work He wants for me to specifically accomplish.

A yoke is significant because it connects, binds, or joins two parties together to enable them to pull the load together.  When two oxen work as a team, they can carry much greater a load for much longer distance. When I remember Christ daily and plead in prayer for His grace, strength, and power to flow into me to accomplish His work each day,  I go so much farther. I can carry so much more when my focus is aligned with His.

How may I more fully learn?  Have you noticed how the Savior’s ministry is described with the words “teaching, preaching, and healing”? (Matthew 4:23)  It’s interesting to me that as we seek to learn of Christ’s teachings by spending time with His words, we also receive healing and rest to our wounded and weary souls.  The scriptures have served as a Balm of Gilead to my soul countless times throughout my life.

Richard G. Scott described it this way:

“Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

The scriptures… can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.” (“The Power of Scripture”, Ensign, Nov. 2011)

Consider some of the following passages.  How could these words bring needed rest and recovery to your soul?

• • “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). “Fear not little flock” (Luke 12:28; and over 300 other scripture references to fear not).

• • “When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly… your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:6-8)

• • “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee… with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer… for the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee.” (Isaiah 54:7-10)

• • “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.” (Isaiah 49:16)

• • “I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest.  And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.” (Enos 1:27)

We can find ourselves in God’s word when we spend time with His word.  These moments can become sacred in our days as we figuratively converse with Christ through Mary, Martha, Peter, the woman with the issue of blood, or the woman at the well.  Walking the roads of Palestine with Christ and His followers can help us more fully understand and feel His personal and intimate love for each of His children. This is what true rest to my soul feels like.

In closing, Patricia Holland shares:

“We must fill ourselves at the fountain of living water, at the feet of our Heavenly Father himself or we have nothing of real strength to give… Please allow yourself to take the time to go to that wilderness retreat now… a place filled with prayer and meditation and spiritual truths… Stop what you are so frantically doing and go into your private wilderness.  Position yourself calmly and quietly in humble serenity until prayer flows naturally and lovingly. When you feel God’s presence… you will be filled with a wonderful strength that will allow you to do anything in righteousness… And because we are filled and strong, we can be a source of light, life, and love for others. “ (Holland, Patricia T. (2000) A Quiet Heart. Lindon, Utah: Bookcraft)

I invite you to consider the impressions that have come to you as you’ve pondered the thoughts and scriptures above.  What intentional practices can you begin doing today to receive Christ’s rest? What must you do to more fully cast your burdens at the feet of the Savior and receive of His promised peace beyond measure?

Edited by Kali Smith

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash