A Supernatural Fix

Honestly, I’m tired of this being my issue! Why doesn’t God step in and just supernaturally fix this? Have you ever felt this way?

God understands what it’s like to feel worn out and tired of struggling, and He hears our cry. Jesus encourages us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

I used to get so frustrated when I heard this verse because I thought, “I don’t want rest — I want to be restored! I want to be rid of this weight struggle once and for all!”

But the gift of rest Jesus is offering here is not a spiritual Ambien. The Greek word for this kind of rest is anapauo (an-ap-ow’-o) which means “of calm and patient expectation.” In other words, Jesus is saying, “If you come to me, I will take your exhaustion in this area and turn it into expectation. In this place you feel hopeless, I can make you hopeful.” But how?

My friend Jennifer Rothschild does this enlightening exercise at some of her conferences. She tells the audience to imagine her writing two different words on a large chalkboard. She then speaks the letters as she draws the first word into the air … R-E-S-T. She does the same for the second word … R-E-S-I-S-T. Then she asks, “What’s the difference?”

The difference is, of course, “I.”

I can’t do this. I can’t say no. I can’t make lasting changes. I don’t see how the Bible can really help with this struggle.

I’m familiar with these “I” statements because I’ve said them myself.

We can only find anapauo rest—fresh hope—as we stop resisting God’s truths and start applying them. Quickly skim back over the truths we’ve already covered in this book and find one you highlighted, got all inspired by, but haven’t yet applied. Write it on a 3 x 5 card and then keep reading.

One of the assignments Jesus gives us is to take on His yoke and learn from Him (Matthew 11:29). In other words, discipline and work are necessary.

This is your part of the equation.

But after the assignment comes reassurance, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). God knows where your strength ends and that is the exact point where His strength begins.

This is God’s part of the equation.

I must do all I can do. Then God will do what only He can do.

My pastor, Steven Furtick, says, “You bring the natural. God will then bring the super. And that’s what creates supernatural.”