God has something better….
Indeed, the Lord will teach this people [in a more humiliating way]
By [men with] stammering lips and a foreign tongue, He who said to them, “This is the place of quiet, give rest to the weary,” And, “This is the resting place,” yet they would not listen. (Isaiah 28:11-12)
To offset today’s issues, struggles and misfortunes, many digress to certain adjunctive (alternative chemicals) and/or somatic (over the counter) drug use. To include: tobacco, alcohol, cough syrup, marijuana and tranquilizers. These substances can be very harmful, produce side effects and often lead to addiction.
However, God has something better for man. It is powerful it is free and has no harmful side effects. HE has deemed it as “the rest” and “the refreshing.” What is HE referring to? A place of quiet – a resting place…
There are many people today that go through the daily grind of trying to exist in a world that is filled with a plethora of challenges. Some of those glaring challenges like racism, mass shootings, social economic inadequacies, militaristic ideologies and the likes are causing an exponential level of stress, anxiety, general depression and other personality disorders.
The question is why is this happening to so many believers? Believers are supposed to live a life of faith that totally depends on God for both existence and sustainment. According to Matthew 28:20 it states, “teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
We need to LOVE like God
The other barrel of the shotgun to faith is love. Love in the world today is at an all-time low. People have become so callous, cold, staunch, and separated as from the days of antiquity. This appears to have resulted from a conspiracy theory of one type of individual being erased/ replaced by another. But the truth is that God made us all from one man. So how can we somehow today superficially separate who we are from another because of mere skin color, perception and like of understanding? On the contrary, the less you understand should drive you to move outside of your comfort zone to inspect, talk with and analyze. Through this effort to understand someone who may look different than you, actually empowers you not to be afraid but be empathetic. According to 1 John 4:7-8 it states, “7 Beloved, let us [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience]. 8 The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature].”
Therefore, the takeaway for today’s heightened level of stress and depression (that is not pathologically related) has to be a result of “NOT” observing the things that are commanded in HIS Word. Remember, HE has promised to be with always regardless of any circumstance even to the end of the world!
There are times in life when situations will put you in dire straits and prayer unceasing is a must. This spiritual movement of prayer should also necessitate a quiet place. And the more you enter that quiet place to seek after HIM, the more rest and peace will be generated in your life…
God Bless – A Note From The Counselor’s Corner,
Dalton Kornegay, PhD
