He looks so angelic, so peaceful. In this moment, it's hard to even believe it POSSIBLE that such a child could even CONSIDER throwing a tantrum. (heh heh) And he went to sleep so easily - no fighting or begging for one more drink...
I remember sleeping in my parents' room a few times. It really was more restful there. Was it the nearness? Was there some greater danger in my bedroom - a mere five feet across the hall - than in theirs? I'm not sure, but I never had a nightmare in my mother's bed. And I never woke up randomly through the night. It was a true, deep rest.
God offers us that kind of rest. Matthew 11:28 says if we come to Him, He will give us rest. Isaiah says He will keep us in PERFECT peace if we keep our thoughts on Him. So why do we often find ourselves crying in our beds, as it were? We stare at the closet door or the floor of our lives, petrified the monsters might emerge when, in truth, we need only to jump to our feet and take the 5 deliberate steps into his arms to find all our fears fading.
Why do we fight so hard to hold on to our monsters? Why do we ask God to meet us on our trembling ground, when, if we would run to his solid place we could find true repose? Is it because we are unsure of Him? Hasn't he proven Himself in the past? Or is it because we fear what His peace might cost us? Perhaps there are certain things we've grown to like about our monsters?
It is true, God's methods are not always certain, but they are always good. I guess the question is, then, is the peace worth the price? I look again at the angelic child by my side. To have such a rest in spirit? Yes, I believe it's worth it.
Run to His arms today. Seek Him while He may be found. Lay down everything that's holding you back and run to Him. He will be there. I pray you find the courage to rest easy.
