Have you ever been awakened from sleep by a bad dream? I have! It never fails; I’m usually falling and wake up jolted, bracing myself for the fall.
After rest and peace, the Lord impressed upon my heart the matter of confidence.
- That sweet child rested without worry.
- He rested confident in the one holding him.
Hopefully, you’re making the connection here. What happens when we lay down our “stuff” (burdens) and rest in the Lord? (see the previous blog) Do we struggle to relax, jolted by everything going on in our heart, mind, and imagination? (2 Corinthians 10:5) Do we reclaim those burdens to resume toiling over them? Or do we, like this child, climb up in our Heavenly Father’s embrace and truly rest without worry?
As we left the ballpark, I said to his mother, “I hope I sleep like him tonight.” She giggled and agreed we should all “rest so well.” The truth is that this child slept “so well” because he had confidence in the arms that held him. Ouch! That challenged me. Did I not trust God’s care for me?
Though the sight of this child only caught my gaze for a moment, so much has lingered in my thoughts! That convicting question has plagued me for weeks. The last several months, we have been pressed, and our faith has increased. We’ve acted according to His prompting – this ministry being one of many proofs. But, there were things I was not confidently laying at his feet. I needed to settle that and pray just like the parent in Mark 9:24. “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”
That is so good, friends. And what an honest prayer for help and increased faith. Might we ask ourselves, “What’s shaking my confidence in a God I know I can trust?” and seek the help only He can provide.
Remember, you can rest confidently in His care. There you’ll find the faith to remain steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding.
