Are You On An Endless Quest?

“Then they said to him, ‘Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful.’ The priest answered them, “Go in peace. Your journey has the Lord’s approval.'”Judges 18:5-6 (NIV)

David Paul Tripp is a pastor, author, and international conference speaker who has written several popular books on Christian living. Thanks to my beautiful wife’s introduction of his work to me, he has also become one of my favorite devotional writers and a regular part of my morning reading rotation.

In 2014 Tripp published “New Morning Mercies – A Daily Gospel Devotional” (order a copy for yourself here). Our copy is dog-eared and underlined and has notes written in all the margins!

The following piece is from that collection and explores the journeys many of us take during seasons of our lives when we turn to situations, locations, and relationships of daily life to bring us happiness rather than looking to the grace of God. We’re including it as this week’s devotional with only a few section breaks added for easier reading.

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It is a wonderful freedom that we just don’t think about and discuss enough. It liberates you from the stress, fear, and anxiety that so many people live with every day. It is a sweet gift of grace that is given to you right here, right now. You never could have found it on your own. You never could have earned or achieved it. You still can’t stand before God and say that you deserve it. It is a gift that is not to be ignored or misunderstood.

We Have Been Given Christ

You have been given Christ, and in being given Christ, you have been given life.

• You don’t need to search for meaning and purpose.
• You don’t need to search for identity.
• You don’t need to look for something to give you the inner sense of well-being that every person wants.
• You don’t have to wonder if you’ll never be loved.
• You don’t have to worry that your life and work will result in nothing.
• You don’t have to wonder if you’ll have what you need to face what will be on your plate today.
• You don’t have to worry about your future.
• You will never be left to the limited range of your own resources.
• You will never, ever be left alone.

There is always someone who understands you and offers you the help that you need. You don’t have to worry about whether your wrongs will be forgiven, and your weaknesses greeted with patience and grace period you don’t have to worry, because you have a Savior who has invaded your life with his grace and has made you the place where he dwells.

We Have Been Freed

So, you have been freed from the end list quest for life that consumes so many people. So many look for life where it cannot be found. They hope their marriages will give them the happiness they have not yet found. They look to their jobs to give them identity. They look to people and possessions to give them peace. They don’t know it, but they are asking the situations, locations, and relationships of everyday life to be their saviors.

Sadly, they’re drinking from wells that are dry and eating bread that will never satisfy. The situations, locations, and relationships of daily life are wonderful to enjoy, but we must first understand that they will never, ever satisfy our hearts. For that, we have been given a true Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Resting in God

So instead of wasting time on that endless quest for life, you have been invited to enter into God’s rest for the rest of your life. Rest in your identity as His child. Rest in His eternal love. Rest in His powerful grace. Rest in His constant presence and faithful provision. Rest in His patience and forgiveness.

Rest.

May God always guide your path.