The beginning of 2025 has not been exactly peaceful. Many events and circumstances have made it hard to lie down at night and just relax.

Rest.

Those worrisome thoughts. You know the ones:

• Have I finished everything I was supposed to do today?
• Did I pray enough?
• Will my family make it through this sickness, storm, etc?
• How can I fix everything?
• Why don’t I have enough hours in the day?
• What if something terrible happens to everyone I know?

Those thoughts steal our hope. Our joy.

Our peace. And what I need most when these attacks begin is peace.

Peace, peace! wonderful peace,

Coming down from the Father above,

Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray,

In fathomless billows of love.

Peace is found in a person.

Jesus Christ. He alone gives peace and rest. Matthew 11: 28-30 says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

What a lovely, poetic word from the Savior of the world. What is Jesus saying to us?

1. Jesus calls for us to come to Him. He calls all who work hard, to the point of exhaustion and are burdened by the cares of the world.
2. Jesus offers to give us rest. Rest in this verse means refreshed again. What a wonderful thought. We take His yoke and learn from Him. The key to rest is coming to Jesus and receiving from Him by faith.
3. Jesus is gentle and lowly of heart. He meets us where we are in our weary, stressed-out condition and offers rest. His meekness is controlled strength. He moves when the Father says to move and stays when He says to stay. We should do the same.
4. Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden light. We follow Jesus, walking or maybe dancing in his steps, staying close, and being submissive to His will for our lives. He knows what we need even when we don’t have a clue.

Jesus is the true peace that is as essential to our lives as oxygen.

Or food and water.

A peace that passes understanding.

When have you found peace during a difficult time? Please share in the comments…