Lately, I’m struggling to have Inner peace.
I LONG for rest, but my soul is in turmoil.
I can’t seem to surrender these feelings of frustration, to
trust in God’s timing, and I’m unsure why.
So I’m doing all I know to do: I press into God’s Word.
At first my hearts cry was, “Show the answer. What am I
supposed to do?”
When that was met with silence, my heart began saying, “What’s
the next step? Just tell me what to do next.”
Finally I said, “Show me YOU.”
And God led me to Hebrews
4-5.
Verses on REST and BELIEF jumped out.
Yes, Unbelief keeps me from entering the Rest provided
for me in the Cross. I can REST because Christ did all the work. All I have to
do is Believe in God’s promises.
That’s encouraging, but it didn’t quiet my soul.
The waves crashed in as my heart cried for MORE.
“God, show me more. I need more help.”
Then I began to mediate on the verses about Christ being
tempted as we are…yet without sin.
He was tempted as I am now?
Tempted to be frustrated with God’s timing?
Tempted to vent to anyone who will listen?
Tempted to take matters into His own hands?
Tempted to run away and hide?
Tempted to be mad at God?
Tempted to lash out at the unfairness of life?
Tempted to fear He wasn’t enough?
Tempted to fear God was asking too much of Him?
Tempted to settle for “good” instead of God’s plan?
Tempted to be human?
I believe God’s Word to be true. Therefore, Christ must have
been tempted with these types of emotions.
Though it’s not written as I just did, there are stories in
the Bible we can look at and infer that Christ was tempted like you and I.
Examples:
1.
Christ
was ready at a young age to begin His ministry, yet He wasn’t baptized until He
was a grown man and THEN He began His short ministry. (Luke
2:41-52, Luke
3:21-22). That must have been frustrating. Being a child, full of wisdom,
but not yet ready to step into the role He was created to fulfill. I wonder if
He ever listened to the “Bible Scholars” of His day and pondered how they could
be so wrong. As He left childhood, I wonder if He asked God “is now
the time to start? People were being deceived. Shouldn’t He begin sooner
rather than later? He knew the Word better than them. They needed Him. Why couldn’t He begin now?” Was
Christ TEMPTED to rush God’s timing?
2.
I could give link after link of times Jesus was
probably TEMPTED to lose his temper with the lack of faith in His disciples.
They got scared of a storm and woke Him. They wanted to send crowds away to get
food instead of trusting in Jesus to feed them. They couldn’t cast a
demon out. A few wanted to sit on His right and left hand. You get the picture.
Jesus was probably TEMPTED to act how we would when our patience is stretched
thin. He might have even been TEMPTED to shout at them, to vent to someone, to throw
up His hands and call it quits.
3.
Hours before His arrest, He asked three
disciples (friends) to pray with Him, but they fell asleep. He was in agony and
they fell asleep. (Matt
26:36-44) It would be easy for Him to think, “Some friends they are”. Christ may have been TEMPTED to be upset
with them. To give into despair and feel utterly alone. He may have been
TEMPTED to lash out at them…or God. Why would God want Him to face these last
moments alone? Couldn’t He have just one friend for a little longer? His emotions
were high. It would have been easy to let them go unchecked…just for a moment.
4.
As He prayed in the Garden, TEMPTATION to not
trust God’s plan was there. He asked if there was possibly another way. He was
willing to die, but the pain of it all was threatening to overwhelm Him. As I
read His words, I try and put myself in His place. I would have been Tempted
to run away. Tempted to think I wasn’t strong enough to accomplish what
God asked. Tempted to think it might be better for the people if I
stayed here longer. They still needed teaching. Didn’t their lack of faith
prove that? Couldn’t the cross wait one more year? Healing the sick, preparing
disciples were “good” things, couldn’t I do that longer and do the whole
cross/sacrifice thing later?
Maybe all this is just me. But I can see ways Christ might
have been tempted.
Just like I am now.
I don’t have to cave to temptations.
The sin that CAN follow temptation was nailed to the cross
with Christ.
He was TEMPTED, but without sin. Yet, He took the
punishment of sin, as if He were the one guilty and not me.
There’s liberty found in resting in the work of the Cross.
Christ did the ultimate work so I can enter His rest.
Rest, not just when I’m dead, but now.
I can rest from my struggles now as I enter boldly before
Him and ask Him to help me with my current temptations. All I have to do is
BELIEVE.
“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne
of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Heb 4:16 NKJV
I need God.
I can’t settle this storm inside on my own.
But I have confidence and trust in the promises found in the
Bible.
So I come boldly and seek the grace I need.
.