The Fruit of the Holy Spirit - Pt. 4

 

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30 ESV).

 

Five years ago Mary had just spent eight days in ICU as a result of an unexpected tear in her colon resulting from a routine colonoscopy. That necessitated the resection of nearly twelve inches of the colon. The recovery was long and difficult with some residual effects still remaining today. You may remember that was also the moment in history when COVID-19 burst on to the scene with lockdowns and restrictions. All across our nation and much of the world there were sharp rises in mental health issues. Everyday life turned upside down. Some studies reported that as many as 75 percent of the general population experienced elevated levels of stress and anxiety. For many, sleep became elusive, and functioning well on a daily basis became a huge challenge. The Bible has an answer for all of that. The third listed benefit of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is “peace” (Galatians 5:22).

 

In our reading today, Jesus invites us to come to Him for “rest.” That words mean “peace.” Stress and anxiety can be described as a lack of inner peace. When we consider the mental health struggles of our world, there is reason for hope. Hope comes when we learn that “the fruit of the Spirit is … peace” (Galatians 5:22). The Spirit cares about our inner turmoil and seeks to calm it. And in many cases the Spirit works to bring peace through counseling and medication. These can be helpful means toward healing, if needed. Thankfully we can trust that whatever we need, God cares about every aspect of our lives, and in Christ we have the promise of increased peace. You have the Holy Spirit if you are a believer; therefore, you have complete access to the fullness of peace. Trust in Him!