Rest In The God Who Works In Love

Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul isn’t trying to minimize our present suffering. He was, after all, a man who suffered greatly himself. He’s trying to give us hope for a day when that suffering will be swallowed up in something greater. You may not see it in this life, but not a single second of your suffering is wasted. Not one thing happens in your life that the goodness of our God will not one day transform into glory. In a world consumed by pain, corruption, and futility, this is hope you can cling to for life.

Resting in God involves surrendering our will to His divine plan for our lives. It requires trust and a willingness to lay down our desires and submit to His perfect will. Surrendering is not a sign of weakness, but a position of trust, recognizing that God's ways are higher than ours.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Surrendering to God involves releasing our need for control and relying on His wisdom and guidance. As we submit to Him in all areas of our lives, He promises to make our paths straight.

Romans 12:1-2 emphasizes that surrendering to God is an act of worship. It requires offering ourselves as living sacrifices, fully dedicated to His purposes. Surrendering involves aligning our thoughts, desires, and actions with His Word, allowing Him to transform us from the inside out. In surrender, we discover His good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives.

Jesus, in Matthew 16:24, calls His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. Surrendering means letting go of our self-centered ambitions and embracing His plans. It involves a daily choice to yield to His leading, trusting that He knows what is best for us.

Let us reflect on areas of our lives where we struggle to surrender to God's will. It could be a dream, a relationship, a decision, or an aspect of our character. Surrender those areas to Him, seeking His guidance and trusting His plans. Embrace surrender as an act of worship, offering yourself fully to Him, and experience the rest that comes from entrusting your life to His loving care.

But remember for a little while, we live in a fallen world and are affected by the ravages of sin. We groan in our mortal bodies in concert with the groaning creation. Our Heavenly Father also groans in His Spirit at the evil that has befallen His perfect creation.

But God ordained His redemptive plan in the eternal council chambers of heaven before the foundation of the world. A good plan, a perfect plan where Christ will be all in all, a plan which will certainly come to fruition because God is working His purpose out in every situation of our lives, whether those circumstances are good or evil.

But we also have His unfailing assurance that the blood of Christ has overcome sin, the world, and the devil, and that every single circumstance of our individual life, as well as the global, satanic plans of the enemy are all working together for God's glory and for the eternal good of all who are called according to the purposes of God; which is to be conformed to the image of His Son.

True rest comes when we surrender our plans, desires, and ambitions to God, trusting that His will is good, pleasing, and perfect. Surrendering to His divine plan allows us to find peace and rest in His guidance and direction!!!

Father, we surrender our will to Yours. Help us to trust You with all our hearts  and submit to Your plans and purposes. Transform our mind and renew our perspective according to Your Word. Grant us the strength to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow You wholeheartedly. Lord thank You that we have been called according to Your plan and purpose, for it is not Your will that any should perish, but that all should come to faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank You, Lord, that You are causing all things to work together to finally achieve Your great redemptive plan and purpose for mankind. Be a blessing love ya.

Father, we love You. Amen