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My Soul Finds Rest in God Alone

                January can be tough.  It is cold and dark.  Christmas is over and, for some, the credit card bills are arriving.  We stay home more and socialize less.  It is easy to think, “I need a break!”
                In addition to that, regardless of the time of year, some people are just overloaded.   Unable or unwilling to say “no”, they end up taking on too many responsibilities and do not have enough time to themselves.  On the other hand, some are bored to death!  There is so little going on in their lives that they become detached and depressed.  Most of us find ourselves somewhere between those two extremes. 
                All of this leaves us chasing after answers which we hope will make our lives better and happier. That is good!  I am all for evaluating and making necessary changes. 
                However, before all of that, consider a truth that David understood.  His answer does not preclude making other changes, but it does come before all the rest of them.  This is not a theoretical idea.  Rather, it is born from David’s own, very real, experience with stress and trouble.   His answer is found in Psalm 62.
                “My soul finds rest in God alone” (verse 1a).  Note the word “alone”.  Temporary relief can be found in many places, but true peace is found only in God.
                “My salvation comes from him.  Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will never be shaken” (verses 1b-2).  A fortress is only necessary if you are under attack.  David was and he outlines what that looks and feels like in the next few verses (3-4). 
                Then he reminds himself, “My soul finds rest in God alone!” (Verse 5).  His enemies are real and discouraging (verses 9-10), but he also realizes that they are “but a breath”.  Our troubles can look big, but in the long run, they do not last. 
                He ends by stating two things that he knows for sure: (a) God is strong and (b) God is loving (verses 11-12).  Those two facts change everything. 
                Struggles come, but, when we have the proper base, they do not have to defeat us.
                “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world!” (1 John 4:4)

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