Advent For Those Grieving | No. 21
ADVENT DAY TWENTY ONE
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.Psalm 4:8
HE GIVES REST
Rest can be difficult and fleeting when grieving. Even if we can find moments of physical rest, our minds and our hearts still seem to race. Fear consumes, hopelessness invades, darkness overwhelms. Sleep is surrender. Sleep is an intentional act of trusting God. Sleep is a moment where we can no longer pretend to be in control and that is terrifying when we have walked through loss. We just want to hold tightly to what still remains and sleep is a moment of letting go. In my darkest moments sleep feels impossible because my heart doesn't trust God. I don't trust that He won't let death in again. I don't trust that He is good.
But "He alone makes me dwell in safety." The hebrew word for safety means: a place of refuge; assurance, without a care, confidence, hope, or secure. He alone provides a place of refuge, He alone gives eternal assurance, He alone takes our cares away and gives us confidence and hope and security.
God alone protects perfectly. God alone provides perfect peace.
You will keep him in perfect peace,Whose mind is stayed on You,Because he trusts in You.Isaiah 26:3
This is a peace and a protection that is not defined by an infinite God and may differ from our definition of peace and protection.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
Jesus says: "My peace is perfect. My peace is better than the peace this world has to offer." Because of Jesus we have eternal peace and we no longer have anything to fear. The worst thing that could have ever happened to us, death and eternal separation from a holy God, happened to Jesus in our place. He took all our reasons to fear and nailed them to a cross. Because of Jesus, His life, His death and His resurrection, we don't have to be afraid. He alone makes us dwell in safety, He alone provides true rest.
THE PROMISE
He gives true peace. He gives true rest. He gives true safety, refuge, confidence, assurance, hope and security.
PRAYER
Father, would you keep my heart stayed on You and as I do, would You provide a perfect peace? A peace that gives me hope, assurance, confidence and a security in You? Would you give me true rest this Christmas? Father, help me to lie down and sleep peacefully.
