Chaplain Chat

Christian Faith can seem paradoxical at times. Trusting in God is the most freeing, refreshing way to live life; and yet can be the most difficult, heart-wrenching experience. The Christian experience can be aptly summed up as a ‘Faith Journey’. It truly is a lifelong voyage of learning to trust in the God we cannot see. It is easy to recognise that life is far better when in God’s hands, but it is far more challenging to actually give Him full control. The invitation of God in Christ Jesus is not to be taken on a whim, it is the invitation to trust Him completely. That means with everything. Jesus certainly understands the weight behind this decision, and yet he calls all of us to this level of trust - and promises a life that is worth it.

Matthew 11:28 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

It takes faith to come to Jesus and trust Him completely. The promise of God is clear - that for all who do they will have their weariness and burdens lifted and they will enter rest. The kind of rest Jesus has on offer is unlike anything the world can offer. It is the state of peace our souls yearn for, and yet it’s on the other side of radical trust. The Message paraphrases it beautifully:

“Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

My prayer as the Chaplain of ACC Darling Downs is that all of us: students, staff, parents and carers would experience this feeling of freedom and weight being lifted off shoulders. To really enter into this rest it takes trust - faith. We don’t have to do anything except rely on the God who promises never to let us down. My hope is that we will all learn to do this. That this year would be a year of taking that leap of faith, and clinging tightly to Jesus. When we do this, I am confident that no matter what, our lives will experience that peace and rest that can only come from God.