Rest on Every Side
Sometimes we go through very long, difficult seasons and forget something important while we’re in the middle of them: they are “seasons,” not meant to last forever, no matter how permanent they feel at the time. Both the best and worst days of our lives come and go—we can’t freeze them in time. Even the longest seasons that seem painfully permanent, like incurable sickness or the sting of loss, will have an end one day when we see Jesus face to face.
Jesus doesn’t bring suffering upon us to punish or hurt us. We live in a fallen world, and none of us are exempt from the trouble that is here, even though we all experience it in different ways. However, God works all things for good, and He uses every painful moment for good when we surrender our stories to Him.
The Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years—now this was quite a long season! Everyone 20 years and older who had grumbled in the wilderness was cursed by God and told they would die there because of their complaining, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua, before the next generation was allowed to enter the Promised Land. Take a moment to imagine this with me: children who were born immediately after this did not know anything different from the wilderness for their entire lives up to this point. This dysfunction was simply normal for them, and it wasn’t even their fault.
Sometimes we go through really long, really difficult things that don’t have anything to do with our own bad decisions. While it’s so unfair to experience this, we are reminded in the book of James to consider any trouble we face as “great joy,” allowing it to refine our character and strengthen our endurance (James 1:2-4). Peter also encourages us with these words:
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10 NIV)
As we read through the story of the Israelites, we finally see this long-awaited promise come to pass for them in the book of Joshua. The next generation finally took possession of their land. While the wilderness was a lifelong season for this young generation—and all they had ever known—it was never meant to be permanent. And not only did God fulfill His promise by giving them the land, but they were also given “rest on every side.”
“So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.” Joshua 21:43-45 NLT
Friend, if you’re going through a long and difficult season, may I remind you today of Peter’s words: Christ Himself restores us after seasons of suffering. May you read the stories in God’s Word about promises fulfilled with your head held high, knowing that He is good and will keep His promises in your life too. May you have the strength to endure as you are refined by fire, and may you experience His rest and peace “on every side” in your life as well.
