“When God is our strength, it is strength indeed; when our strength is our own, it is only weakness.

-Saint Augustine

We all have at one point let this noise of this world and our circumstances hinder us spiritually and emotionally. There is one true source of strength in this life that we can find rest for our souls and that is Jesus. No matter what you’re facing, present your requests to the Lord. He cares and loves all of us deeply and wants to offer you rest in ways this world can never provide. Below are 5 ways that we can draw closer to God and find true rest.

1. Pray. Communicate with God. Submit all your cares and worries to the Lord, for He cares for you. Lay them down and let them go. Prayer helps us be closer to the presence of God and gives us peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) Guard your heart and mind. Seeking Him in prayer helps us focus more on God rather than our circumstances.
2. Get into the Word of God. The Word brings us clarity. It provides many stories of struggles that others faced who walked with Jesus, and many of them shared some sort of similar struggle that we have all faced. Most importantly, getting into the Word helps us put on the armor God against spiritual attacks. (Ephesians 6:11) The armor of God includes: the Helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, the sword of the spirit, and the gospel of peace. The Word is truth and it guides us, equipping us with everything that we will ever need.
3. Focus on the things of God and not your circumstances. Practice positivity and gratitude. You will be surprised by how much smaller your situation can feel when you focus on God and the things of God rather than what’s going on around you. It can help change your perspective entirely.
4. Slow your pace in life and be still. Sometimes, it’s the constant go of our busy lives that create chaos. The pace can cause distraction and separation spiritually as it invites anxiety and stress rather than peace and presence. It’s in the stillness that we can hear God the loudest, even in the seasons where we feel He is silent or the farthest from us.
5. Surrender! At times, we can cause our own heartache and turmoil. God always knows what is best for us and many times, we feel we know what’s best. We keep our foot in the door that God intended for us to walk away from by trying to control our own outcome. We find true peace by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us when we surrender our situation and trust the one who is in total control; for we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him. (Romans 8:28)

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

1 Chronicles 16:11 “Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”

Isaiah 40:30-31 “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”