FROM THE KEYBOARD

Our souls will always be restless in life until they come to rest in Christ. "Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you" (Psalm 116:7).

Our thought life is an invisible power that eventually becomes visible in our behavior. And such influence is either destructive or productive, and the difference depends on what we place our mind upon. You can either meditate on whatever is true or you can be tethered to a lie. You can think upon whatever is excellent or you can be persuaded by what's a detriment, but you can't do both. Therefore, "whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things" (Philippians 4:8).

Casting our worries aside begins by embracing the Word of God. You see, the only way to remove our cares from weighing us down is to cast them up to a God who lifts us up. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (I Peter 5:6-7).

It is true that trials, difficulties, and specifically brokenness are a means by which faith is exercised and increased. Such adversity is a way to know God more deeply. So when trials come and our innermost soul is tested, we shall say: “I will wait and see what good God will do to me by it, assured He will do it. Thus, we shall bear an honorable testimony before the world, and thus we shall strengthen the hands of others" (George Mueller).

Joy in the Lord cannot even be stolen by the trials of this world. And there is no worldly thief that can break into the fortress of God’s heavenly peace. You see, when you are in the Lord, your joy can't be stolen and your peace can't be broken. Therefore, stay in the Lord and allow the Lord to be your mainstay. "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

There is no merit by which man can ever be made righteous. In fact, it is only by the mercy of God that man can ever be made spotless. You see, our sins, which are to our eternal demise, can only be washed by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. "Come now, let's settle this," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool" (Isaiah 1:18). Again, it is not by our own merit, but by God's mercy that we are saved.