Welcome and thank you again for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

As we walk down the pathway of life we can find ourselves being wearied by the trials and tribulations that sometimes seem to surround us. Even on a good day our strength may be used by the demands or our jobs, our homes or our good friends or loved ones that need our assistance, It is then that we turn to help to gain the much needed rest that may replenish us for another day. God reminds us of the rest we need as He rested on the seventh day on creation (Genesis 2:2-3). As much as our bodies need to refuel for another day, so does our mind need time to rest as our Lord needed time away from the multitudes that pressed Him so as He took solitude to often times pray to the Father (Matthew 8:18-24, 14:13 & Luke 5:16). Just as we "…have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23), we recognize that sin is a separation between us and God and only by repenting and turning from it will we once again be right with Him which will set our minds at peace as we walk again with Him in His word (Acts 26:20).

And so to find our answer to our question, "Can we find rest in God?" we first turn to

Matthew 11: 28-30 and hear Jesus say, "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden 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. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Jesus understands the distresses of this life and is ready to bear our burdens to free our minds and souls for a much needed rest for as He tells us, "So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34). He tells us in the verses previous that we should not be anxious for what we are to eat or drink or what to wear for worry will not add one single hour to our lives and can actually shorten it according to our doctors today, but if we seek His kingdom first and His righteousness, then these things will be added (Verses 25-33). We are not to be conformed to the world and its ways but are to be transformed by the word by the renewing of our mind to recognize the good deeds we are to be about in this life including encouraging one another in hope and in love, with hospitality and prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints and being at peace with all men when it depends upon us (Romans 12:7-18). In Him we find the Spirit helps us in our prayers because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:25-26). And in Him we have a hope that translates into a peace because of the anchor that is set for the life that awaits those who love His appearing on that day for if we are with Him in this life, who can be against us,

Romans 8:37-39 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I

am convinces that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to

come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from

the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul says, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13). What a wonderful thing to say and believe! Let us be as content as he in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in.

Philippians 4: 4-9 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known

to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with

thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all

comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatever is

honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is

any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and

received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Let us press on in life with Him foremost in our thoughts and so that our steps may be in harmony with Him for both a restful, and peaceful pathway upon this earth. Troubles may still befall us and the Lord promises us that we will be tested and tempted, but not beyond what we are each able to endure
(2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Corinthians 10:13), just as Paul found many troubles upon his pathway
(2 Corinthians 11:22-33). We must recognize that this life is not to seek out how many physical riches we can gain before we die (Matthew 6:19-21), but how many spiritual riches we may treasure away, so that the rest we all seek may be found within each of our hears, and minds and souls for that eternal rest (Hebrews 6:9-20),

Hebrews 4:9-11 & 16 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested for his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience… Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.

So the answer to our question is that we can find rest in God as we follow Him and walk in Him and put our trust, again, in Him, for life eternal. Yes, we may lose our lives, our homes, our loved ones, but the confidence we have in life eternal gives us a mind of peaceful rest for we know that as we fight the good fight of faith, there is laid for us a crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:7-8)!