Though Weary Now, Rest In Him!

And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-8 NLT

Promoting The Gospel of Jesus Christ can wear some people out, if we let it. Those of us who understand that the world is not really receptive to hearing the Good News, know we must continue to move forward, promoting The Gospel even when people don't want to hear it. 

One would think if a person didn't want to hear something they would just ignore or tune-out the person speaking, but tuning us out isn't good enough for the harbingers of demonic influence. Under that influence, those who do not want to believe or hear Truth, take great pleasure in persecuting those of us who promote Truth. They love to see if they can get us to act as they do and get even angrier when we don't take the bait. Ugliness rises from the tide of verbal abuse to physical abuse in some cases. This doesn't mean that Believers have to succumb to the abuse or act like a doormat and defend self. But that's a topic for another blog.

What we have to understand in all of the turmoil and conflicts in being obedient is that we can rest in Christ Jesus--knowing that He will take care of all those who persecute us--in His timing and avenge us so the world will know--we are not our own, but we belong to Him.

Every time the enemy raises his ugly head we stare him in the face, fully armed to do battle in the spirit and come out victorious. Victory is not always easy and is certainly nothing the lazy will ever experience. Pursuing victory in anything means working hard and diligently, never willing to give up. Ask any professional athlete how hard they work to win, but when they win--they can rest in aftermath--knowing their hard work paid off for them.

We too can rest in the aftermath of each victory--every time we see the light come on in the minds of those who choose to believe Truth and then live it. In fact, after every victory--every new believer coming to Christ--we can expect the enemy to attack, but we can continue our journey knowing that resting in Him can be as easy as focusing on what He would have us to do, not what the enemy is doing.

Though the rest we desire does not come without a price--we will survive and rest in Him--knowing we have been faithful to His calling and in bringing Truth to the masses so all can be judged according to His judgment.

Keep going--though weary with all the world's foolishness and prepare to rest in Him, allowing Him to minister to our hearts so we can rise up and get going again.