Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Nowhere Else to Go
From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety. —Psalm 61:2
A grieving father recently asked me, "What words helped you?"
I told him, "Well, I don't know what words helped me. I just know who helped me. And I know where I needed to turn. I need to turn to Jesus."
When we are burdened, when we are overwhelmed, we need to come to Jesus. There really is nowhere else to go. Jesus did not say that when you are burdened or overwhelmed, you should go to counseling. Nor did He say you should just go read a book, or even go to church or go hear a sermon—although these things are good. Ultimately, the answer is to go to Jesus.
Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). The invitation simply was, "Come to Me"—not "Come to My teachings," although it could include that. Nor did He say, "Make changes in your life and come to Me." It simply was, "Come to Me."
The psalmist declared, "From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety."
Yet modern culture would say something different. It would say, "Well, if you can, just get that promotion. If you can, just get that house. If you can, just take that vacation. Then you will find rest." Materialism would say, "Build it up, and you will find rest." Pleasure mania would say, "Live it up, and you will find rest." Religion would say, "Keep it up, and you will find rest."
But Jesus says, "Come to Me, and you will find rest." It is not so much that we need words—we need the Living Word. When we are under pressure, we need Jesus.
Copyright © 2011 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org
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SPECIAL OFFER
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Have you ever doubted the Bible? Have you ever had questions about how the Bible came into being? Have you wondered about the historical reliability of the Bible? Listen. Don't feel bad about that. Let us help you. Here is a great resource that will bolster your faith and help you to defend your beliefs. This book is called Seven Reasons Why You Can Trust the Bible. It is written by Greg's friend, Dr. Erwin Lutzer, who is the pastor of the famed Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, Illinois.
You can have your own copy of Seven Reasons Why You Can Trust the Bible in appreciation for your gift to Harvest Ministries this month. 
