“Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.” (Psalm 116:7, NRSV)
Walking into an Old West cemetery, the traveler noted very old tombstones. Among the tombstones, she saw the names of a good many children under the age of ten. In centuries past, many children did not live past their younger years. Disease, hardships, and dangers took their toll. Traveling west in a “prairie schooner” wagon was no easy task. Helping with the animals and fields were the chores of many children, and this could be hazardous. Even things like the flu or a bad virus could take the life of a child in the days before antibiotics. As the woman walked among the few rows of this Old West cemetery, she saw a good number of the tombstones had the letters R.I.P. These letters meant simply, “Rest in Peace”.
Historians have discovered the phrase “Rest in Peace” or just the letters RIP on tombstones around the eighth century AD in Christian burial places. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it was commonplace to include it on tombstones. Because the New Testament talks about the desire of faithful Christians to find eternal rest with the Lord in Heaven, many believe the phrase “Rest in Peace” originated with Christians who sought to find eternal rest in Heavenly realms.
Throughout the centuries, people found comfort in the idea of resting in the arms of the Almighty. The words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28 were often used to comfort the afflicted, especially those who were near death. In this verse, Jesus tells the faithful to “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”. Finding comfort and rest with God in Christ eases any burden in life. The thought of living eternally in Heaven where no wars or suffering or pain can penetrate the heart with warmth and ease the mind. That is why Revelation 21:4 was often used during the graveside services for Christians. This verse includes these comforting words: “He [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” Eternal rest like this does sound beautiful, especially considering the struggle in dying.
However, long before Christians and Jesus, there were scriptures that linked peace and rest with God in Heaven. One example is found in the scripture today from Psalm 116:7: “Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.” This scripture follows earlier verses in this psalm, which speak of a man who suffered greatly, even feeling death was close (See Psalm 116:3-4). Thankfully, God saved the man. In response, the man wanted his soul to “return to rest”. His life was restored. God blessed him. There was now rest and peace because of God’s grace.
I want you to notice something often overlooked in this verse that forms our meditation for today. Psalm 116:7 links God’s blessings with finding holy rest. God dealt “bountifully” with the author of this scripture. In response, his soul found rest. The weary soul will find rest with God’s blessings. The suffering servant will find hope and peace in God’s action. Those in heaven find comfort and peace in a kingdom wherein God reigns supreme. Again, where God is… there is rest.
When the disciples were thrown about during a storm on the Sea of Galilee, they cried out in fear (Luke 8;24). Where was Jesus? He was asleep in the boat, completely at rest with no worry about the storm. When Jesus awoke to find fear in the disciples, the Lord calmed the wind and the waves. The sea came to rest. All was calm. Jesus was in charge and thus rest was secured (Luke 8:25).
If you find yourself tossing and turning in the night, if your mind is filled with worry or fear, if obstacles feel overwhelming, it will help to move closer to Jesus. Call to the Son of God. Give Him your fears. Seek His presence. Look for His salvation. Only there will you find any real rest. Only in the presence of God will your heart and soul and mind find true peace.
I sat with the bride just a half hour before she was to take her marriage vows. I went to her side to pray with her about the very important promises she was about to make. As we sat there together, I saw fear on her face. I took her hand that was shaking. I asked, “What is wrong, dear girl?” She poured out all her worries and fears about getting married and starting a new life with a new husband and moving away from her home. Tears poured down her cheeks as she came face to face with all the unknowns. I calmly told her that God was with her right now. God wasn’t going to leave her. God would travel with her and guard her. God had brought her to this point. Someday, God would take her home to Heaven. She has always been in the hands of the Almighty. As the angels told the Shepherds on Christmas, “Do not fear!”, she should not fear to take the next steps with her Lord. We prayed. Her smile returned. Peace settled into her soul. The blessings of joy filled her for the rest of that day. Her faith in God brought blessings. With those blessings from God came rest and peace.
So many people in this world are rushing about filled with insecurities, worries, and fears. Mistakes and sins have clouded their past. Unknowns bring doubt into their present. Social media fills the airwaves with all kinds of negative possibilities and endless sources of gloom and doom. So many focus on what could go wrong. So few focus on God. Is it any wonder that most people today find no rest in worship nor peace in their souls?
You must be different. Keep yourself close to God. Pray for the peace that passes all understanding that keeps your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Notice the blessings of God around you. May your future be filled with joy, because of God in Christ. May you REST IN PEACE eternally in the presence of the Almighty who has called you, who knows your name, and who has bought your redemption at the foot of a cross.
Historians have discovered the phrase “Rest in Peace” or just the letters RIP on tombstones around the eighth century AD in Christian burial places. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, it was commonplace to include it on tombstones. Because the New Testament talks about the desire of faithful Christians to find eternal rest with the Lord in Heaven, many believe the phrase “Rest in Peace” originated with Christians who sought to find eternal rest in Heavenly realms.
Throughout the centuries, people found comfort in the idea of resting in the arms of the Almighty. The words of Jesus from Matthew 11:28 were often used to comfort the afflicted, especially those who were near death. In this verse, Jesus tells the faithful to “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”. Finding comfort and rest with God in Christ eases any burden in life. The thought of living eternally in Heaven where no wars or suffering or pain can penetrate the heart with warmth and ease the mind. That is why Revelation 21:4 was often used during the graveside services for Christians. This verse includes these comforting words: “He [God] will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” Eternal rest like this does sound beautiful, especially considering the struggle in dying.
However, long before Christians and Jesus, there were scriptures that linked peace and rest with God in Heaven. One example is found in the scripture today from Psalm 116:7: “Return, O my soul, to your rest, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.” This scripture follows earlier verses in this psalm, which speak of a man who suffered greatly, even feeling death was close (See Psalm 116:3-4). Thankfully, God saved the man. In response, the man wanted his soul to “return to rest”. His life was restored. God blessed him. There was now rest and peace because of God’s grace.
I want you to notice something often overlooked in this verse that forms our meditation for today. Psalm 116:7 links God’s blessings with finding holy rest. God dealt “bountifully” with the author of this scripture. In response, his soul found rest. The weary soul will find rest with God’s blessings. The suffering servant will find hope and peace in God’s action. Those in heaven find comfort and peace in a kingdom wherein God reigns supreme. Again, where God is… there is rest.
When the disciples were thrown about during a storm on the Sea of Galilee, they cried out in fear (Luke 8;24). Where was Jesus? He was asleep in the boat, completely at rest with no worry about the storm. When Jesus awoke to find fear in the disciples, the Lord calmed the wind and the waves. The sea came to rest. All was calm. Jesus was in charge and thus rest was secured (Luke 8:25).
If you find yourself tossing and turning in the night, if your mind is filled with worry or fear, if obstacles feel overwhelming, it will help to move closer to Jesus. Call to the Son of God. Give Him your fears. Seek His presence. Look for His salvation. Only there will you find any real rest. Only in the presence of God will your heart and soul and mind find true peace.
I sat with the bride just a half hour before she was to take her marriage vows. I went to her side to pray with her about the very important promises she was about to make. As we sat there together, I saw fear on her face. I took her hand that was shaking. I asked, “What is wrong, dear girl?” She poured out all her worries and fears about getting married and starting a new life with a new husband and moving away from her home. Tears poured down her cheeks as she came face to face with all the unknowns. I calmly told her that God was with her right now. God wasn’t going to leave her. God would travel with her and guard her. God had brought her to this point. Someday, God would take her home to Heaven. She has always been in the hands of the Almighty. As the angels told the Shepherds on Christmas, “Do not fear!”, she should not fear to take the next steps with her Lord. We prayed. Her smile returned. Peace settled into her soul. The blessings of joy filled her for the rest of that day. Her faith in God brought blessings. With those blessings from God came rest and peace.
So many people in this world are rushing about filled with insecurities, worries, and fears. Mistakes and sins have clouded their past. Unknowns bring doubt into their present. Social media fills the airwaves with all kinds of negative possibilities and endless sources of gloom and doom. So many focus on what could go wrong. So few focus on God. Is it any wonder that most people today find no rest in worship nor peace in their souls?
You must be different. Keep yourself close to God. Pray for the peace that passes all understanding that keeps your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Notice the blessings of God around you. May your future be filled with joy, because of God in Christ. May you REST IN PEACE eternally in the presence of the Almighty who has called you, who knows your name, and who has bought your redemption at the foot of a cross.