Trust God and Get Some Rest - New Evangelizers

The protector of Israel never dozes or sleeps. Psalm 121:4

Problems sneak into our lives right under God’s nose—or so it seems. It’s only natural that we do all we can to solve them. God gave us our brains and abilities for a reason. But there’s a difference between giving challenges our best effort and being hypervigilant about circumstances beyond our control. When we’ve done our best using all available resources, it’s time to trust God and let go.

Sometimes fear, not dedication, drives us to run ourselves into the ground. We get a false sense of security when we feel in control. If we try hard enough, we can solve the problem and end the tension, right? Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work. Face to face with our human limitations, the tension remains and we worry—which gets us nowhere. Knowing that doesn’t keep us from worrying, though.

What helps?

Reminding ourselves that God never dozes or sleeps. He knows all about our needs, our concerns—and our limitations. After all, he created us. He would never expect us to do more than we’re capable of. Yes, we have to do our part, but we never have to do more than our part.

We can call to mind the ways God has taken care of us in the past. We can list in black and white the things God has done for us that we could never have done for ourselves. God has gotten us through the worst times in our life and brought us to the present moment. Reviewing God’s help with past problems builds trust that he’s also with us in our present circumstances—whatever they are.

God is love. He is also all-wise and all-powerful. He never dozes our sleeps. It’s safe to trust him.

So, once we’ve done all we can, let’s take some down time and get some rest.

Prayer: Lord, please show us what needs our attention and what to leave in your hands.

Reflection: In what ways do you push yourself too hard? How might God be inviting you to trust him and relax?

Copyright 2017, Barbara Hosbach

Barbara Hosbach

Barbara Hosbach, freelance writer, is co-chair of the CJ Chapter of the Catholic Writers Guild and member of the Catholic Press Association. Hosbach’s articles have appeared in a number of Catholic periodicals. Her latest book, Your Faith Has Made You Well: Jesus Heals in the New Testament, explores what happened when Jesus healed and what it means for us today. Your Faith Has Made You Well: Jesus Heals in the New Testament and Fools, Liars, Cheaters, and Other Bible Heroes