Sometimes our fatigue isn’t as much about physical labour as it is about other factors at play in our lives. It invites us to take a step back to see what else is going on, and finding solutions. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Hebrews 4:3 NIV
[3] Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ” And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.
Faith is the Key
Some of us know that there’s a direct relationship between faith and belief. Faith, or ‘pistis‘, in Greek translates to belief, assurance, faith, or fidelity. And believe i.e., ‘pisteuó‘ used in our Nougat is a verb, it’s faith in action. When framed like that, we realize that when we faith is active in our lives, it brings transformation.
Do you know or remember that line from ‘God is Amazing’, by Deniece Williams – where she says ‘Faith is the key in time of need‘? She’s right. But I’d argue that it’s not only in times of need. Faith is key to finding rest in God’s presence, and being at peace when wars and storms are raging around us.
Self-Check
Whether the wars and storms we face are internally driven or caused by other sources, how easily do we find our peace? Can we trace the peace to our faith in Christ?
Digging Deeper
That author of Hebrews tells us in chapter 11 that Faith is the basis of all our dreams and aspirations … the things we hope for. Motivational speakers tell us that we can achieve what we believe. It’s the same premise. Whenever the Children of Israel lost sight of God’s promise, they got further and further away from their destination. So much so that a journey that should have taken them a few days took 40 years.
That is at least 14,500 days of walking using our 365 days calendar!
Siblings, in the 20+ age group of the original travellers who left for the Land of Promise, only Joshua and Caleb made it in. The others lack of faith kept them out. The grumbling and doubts halted their progress.
It can also happen to us, siblings. Our failure to believe, to find assurance in God’s fidelity, to faith can lock us out of literal and spiritual rest. How many times have we permitted fear and worry to block our way from walking fully into what God has promised us? And sometimes, even after realizing what we’ve lost out on, we still allow those negatives to paralyse us.
Our Hebrews’ coach/mentor assures us that God has already established the end, which means God’s taken care of everything that God has promised.
Everything for God still means everything.
The main obstacle for us then, is our fear. We must overcome it.
Point to Ponder
When we can identify the root of our unbelief, it becomes easier for us to overcome it. It could also be the cause of our fatigue. Let’s activate our faith by identifying the source/s of our worry or fear, and asking God to give us grace to believe God’s promises that we can overcome.
Praise Break
Here’s a video of ‘God is Amazing’ by Deniece Williams. (Listen also to the introductory words)
