THE CHEST TO REST ON

THE CHEST TO REST ON

As a kid, my aunt’s husband would wash me, put me on his back, buy me wears and fought for me. I learnt smartness and intelligence from him. On my 10th year birthday, he promised me a loving gift, a gift no one had ever given to me. I looked forward to receiving the gift since I know he is good at surprises cause my 5th year birthday, he bought me a sports toy car which made me the envy of all my friends.

On 20th September 2010, he bought me a Cinderella dress which sits well with my cake. I felt like a queen with an invisible throne. After celebrating in school, he requested my school permit me to be absent from school activities as he had other gifts. The school consented, and then we went swimming, seeing a movie and returned home.  Upon arrival, I was told to go into every room (it was a three-bedroom duplex) and would find treasurable gifts in them. I did and was elated starting with the boxes of chocolates in my room, the sweet parfum in my cousin’s room to the tiara on my aunt’s matrimonial bed. I picked it tiara, place it on my head and was dancing while screaming a THANK YOU to him. He said, close your eyes, I still have more gifts for you. I quickly did, he blind folded me, tied me to the bed and raped me. I screamed, pleaded, wept and bled. Then he said, I was now a big girl. He threatened not to pay my fees anymore if I told anyone. It became a continuous thing (at least once a week).  I could not speak with my aunt because she was not friendly towards me, she had once told me I wanted to take her husband away from her. I soon stopped concentrating in school. I was damaged, I constantly long to kill him as hatred had eaten me up.

One day as I went home from school, deep in thought, I was almost hit by a moving vehicle and that was how I met Jack. After a while, we got close and I told him all I had passed through and how I wanted vengeance against him so my hurt could be healed. He let me know he saw all even without me talking but he only needed me to trust in him. I did but I did not like the fact that Jack was not ready to hurt my uncle, rather, my healing process. I got it all out the moment I trusted Jack because he kept soothing my heart with words, with his listening ears, with his time.

Hey! You know what? There is still a Jack in the midst of all you have passed through or you are passing through, just trust him, seek him and cast your burden on him. That Jack is JESUS who loves you unconditionally. I Peter 5:7 says, casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Jesus knows what you are going through and He is ready to help you out

"I will give you rest." This is one of the promises Jesus made according to Matthew 11:28. Rest is a pleasant thing, and a thing that all seek after. The merchant, the banker, the tradesman, the soldier, the lawyer, the farmer—all look forward to the day when they shall be able to rest. But how few can find rest in this world! How many pass their lives in seeking it, and never seem able to reach it! It seems very near sometimes, and they imagine it will soon be their own. Some new personal calamity happens, and they are as far off rest as ever.

The whole world is full of restlessness and disappointment, weariness and emptiness. The very faces of worldly men let out the secret; their countenances give evidence that the Bible is true; they find no rest. "Vanity and vexation of spirit" is the true report of all here below. "Who will show us any good?" the bitter confession of many now, just as in David's time.

Take warning, young men and women. Do not think that happiness is to be found in any earthly thing. Do not have to learn this by bitter experience. Realize it while young, and do not waste your time in hewing out "cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."

But Jesus offers rest to all who will come to Him. "Come unto Me," he says, "and I will give you rest." He will give it. He will not SELL it, as the Pharisee supposes—so much rest and peace in return for so many good works. He gives it freely to every coming sinner, without money and without price. He will not LEND, as the Arminian supposes, so much peace and rest, all to be taken away by-and-by if we do not please Him. He gives it forever and ever. His gifts are irrevocable. Shalom.