Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from “The Adult Sabbath School Guide” is titled “Free to Rest“. The quarterly looks at “how we can find rest and healing, even when our prayers for healing are not answered, at least for now” (quarterly for Monday, August 16). And so for my weekly “thought” I will quote EGW in entirety. Two quotes, both from “The Ministry of Healing”. Over the years and the tears, these quotes have helped me and my late wife. I hope they help you, too.
“Tenderly He bade the toiling people, ‘Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls’ (Matthew 11:29). In these words, Christ was speaking to every human being. Whether they know it or not, all are weary and heavy-laden. All are weighed down with burdens that only Christ can remove. The heaviest burden that we bear is the burden of sin. If we were left to bear this burden, it would crush us. But the Sinless One has taken our place. ‘The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all’ (Isaiah 53:6). He has borne the burden of our guilt. He will take the load from our weary shoulders. He will give us rest. The burden of care and sorrow also He will bear. He invites us to cast all our care upon Him; for He carries us upon His heart.
The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as the Savior. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations; for He was ‘in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin’ (Hebrews 4:15). He is watching over you, trembling child of God. Are you tempted? He will deliver. Are you weak? He will strengthen. Are you ignorant? He will enlighten. Are you wounded? He will heal. The Lord ‘tells the number of the stars;’ and yet ‘He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds’(Psalm 147:4, 3).
Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be open for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength. The heavier your burdens, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon your Burden Bearer. Circumstances may separate friends; the restless waters of the wide sea may roll between us and them. But no circumstances, no distance, can separate us from the Savior. Wherever we may be, He is at our right hand, to support, maintain, uphold, and cheer. Greater than the love of a mother for her child is Christ's love for His redeemed. It is our privilege to rest in His love, to say, ‘I will trust Him; for He gave His life for me.’
Human love may change, but Christ's love knows no change. When we cry to Him for help, His hand is stretched out to save. ‘The mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; But My loving-kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall My covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee’ (Isaiah 54:10, A.R.V).” {Ministry of Healing pg. 71-72}.
Lastly, one shorter quote from the “Ministry of Healing” page 251. A quote about depression and pain. A most marvelous quote that meant everything to my late wife, who suffered so much with pain:
“Often your mind may be clouded because of pain. Then do not try to think. You know that Jesus loves you. He understands your weakness. You may do His will by simply resting in His arms.”
With brotherly love,
Jim