Life is so hard! I am sure you know this too, first hand. You most likely learned it, like I did, at the school of hard knocks. Struggles with health, finances, jobs, relationships, caring for loved ones, loss of loved ones—all can hit us in an instant and knock the life out of us.

And our trials often come back to back too, sometimes they overlap. I had my third painful breast cancer surgery, was diagnosed with melanoma, and my best friend went to federal prison for embezzling from me, all in the same month. Trials are exhausting, worrisome and discouraging. God never said it would be easy, yet He does not intend for us to live exhausted, worried and discouraged lives.

He says …

Don’t be exhausted, surrender. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28

Don’t worry, pray. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16.

Don’t be discouraged, trust. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Who does not want to find rest for their soul, mercy and grace for their time of need and peace that comes when discouragement is lifted? He has the answers. He is the answer.

Even though I know this power is available to me, the power that raised Jesus from the dead, sometimes I still try to do it myself. Why do we do that, when we know more than anything else we need to crawl into God’s “Easy Chair”, be still, surrender, pray and trust Him to love on us and guide us? We know that this should be our first resort, not our last.

Are we too busy? The world asks us to be busy. God asks us to be still so that we can receive His love, peace and guidance. The truth is we ARE too busy NOT to pray, NOT to be in our Bibles, NOT to seek God. We need help.

And worry certainly does not help. Corrie Ten Boom said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its troubles. It empties today of its strength.” And Francis Chan says,  “Worry implies that we don’t quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what’s happening in our lives.” Ouch, good words to hear, but harder to live by.

Why should we trust and crawl into His easy chair for comfort? Lots of reasons …

God’s ways are better than our ways. He sees the future. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done” (Isaiah 46:9-10).

God’s plans are bigger than our plans, our mistakes and our fears. We plan, He directs. “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Prov. 16:9)

God’s dreams for our lives are more rewarding, more fulfilling, better than we have ever dreamed of. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

His ways are higher than ours. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)

Most importantly, He loves us. … “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Whatever it is, He has got this. He is waiting for you today in His easy chair, won’t you crawl into it and let Him tell you and show you how much He loves you?

Dear Lord: Thank You for loving us so much. Even though Your Word says that we will have trouble in this world, You have overcome the world through Your Son Jesus Christ. And because of that, if we have accepted Him as our Savior, we can overcome too. Thank You for offering us peace, rest, comfort and guidance through our difficult journey in Your easy chair of love. May we seek to meet You there often. Amen

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”  Exodus 14:14

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God: my hope comes from him.”  Psalm 62:5 

Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. No matter how difficult your journey, may you always find peaceful rest and sweet comfort in God’s easy chair.