Rest for Anxious Hearts
Opening Prayer
Merciful Lord, let the warming light of Your truth break through the darkness of my unbelief. Then I will see You as You really are.
Read Psalm 62
1 Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
2 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“In trouble, he (Jesus) is your peace; in lack, he is your sufficiency; in difficulty, he is your joy; in weakness, he is your strength; in battle, he is your victory” (Roy Hession). Thanks be to God!
Think Further
A restless and anxious heart is a heavy burden. This psalm speaks of restfulness and trust, offering it to all who are blown about like leaves in a storm. Rest for the soul has to do with who God is and our knowledge of him. There is no rest outside of God. He alone is our rest, he alone is our rock and salvation (1,2,5,6, ESV). The psalmist declares that God is his salvation, fortress, mighty rock and refuge. This personal knowledge of God brings peace and rest. This does not mean that the psalmist is free from trouble. In fact, he is assaulted by enemies who try to topple him (4), but through it all he is able to testify, “I shall never be shaken” (2,6). How wonderful it is to believe in God and to belong to the unshakeable kingdom (Heb. 12:28)!
Rest is connected with trusting God “at all times” (8). It is easy to be troubled by adversity and to place our trust wrongfully on human ingenuity, wealth and even wrong and deceptive actions (9,10). God alone is worthy of our trust; he indeed is our refuge (8).
The psalm ends with a declaration of the character of God—again, the basis of our trust and rest. Two characteristics of God are highlighted: God is strong; God is loving (11,12). What great comfort this truth brings us! No matter what you are facing, remember that God is strong enough to lift you up from the deepest pit or free you from the vilest dungeon (Psa. 40:2; Acts 12:5–10). He also loves you enough to make sure that no evil comes to you without first passing through him (Job 1:12; 2:6). This alone is reason enough to trust him and find rest in him.
Apply
What restlessness do you detect in your heart? Can you readily trust God? In what ways does this psalm speak to you about resting and trusting in God?
Closing prayer
Loving Father, I long for the certainty of the psalmist: patiently waiting, positively hoping, set and secure for life. Lord, how great You are.
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