Strength for our struggles
Exodus 33:14 “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
What is it that you struggle with in life? Who is it that you struggle with in life?
The answers to those questions are likely not things which you share publicly or very widely. Maybe you are embarrassed by what you struggle with or embarrassed because you don’t want people to know that you have weaknesses or struggles.
If you stop to really think about it everyone has struggles. They come in different sizes, last for different amounts of time and leave different end results. So what is your source of strength in your struggles? I am not dismissing or denying that there are some struggles which require medication or professional help to help people cope and deal with certain issues. But contrary to some people’s thinking, not every situation demands a prescription or a psychiatrist.
So what is your source of strength to face the challenges of sin and the other struggles of living in a sinful world? As a Christian you know the answer to that question. You know that God is your source of strength and comfort in each and every situation, but so often we fail to turn to the one true, real and lasting source of strength.
So often we fail to take advantage of our Savior’s invitation in Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”. Think back to what we said earlier – we don’t like to admit our weakness or failures and so we think that we have to carry our own burdens and solve our own problems so we don’t let others see or know what we are struggling with. The very reason our Savior spoke the words he did in the 2 verses above is because he knows what we struggle with because as true man he struggled with the very same things we do. We don’t have to be embarrassed or afraid to show our weak side to our Savior – as true God he knows everything about us and as our Savior he loves us and cares for us without judging or thinking less of us.
Our verse for this week is from very early in the history of the world and pages of the Bible and God puts this assurance in a very tangible way “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”. Notice how the word “presence” is capitalized. That is because it is speaking of God himself.
Think about that for a minute. Not only does God give us strength for our struggles through the power of his Word and the Sacraments – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, he also promises and reassures us that he walks with us every step of the way. That is an attribute of God which we often forget about and lose sight of. Even though we can’t see him, what an assurance and comfort to know our gracious and loving God is always with us and wants to be our strength and help in our struggles.
Remember his invitation, take advantage of it, let God be your strength in your struggles and find rest and peace in him.