Good morning and a most blessed Thursday to you.

Yesterday, I was listening to hymns, and one that came on was by a Celtic worship band called Rest and Be Thankful. It was a beautiful hymn, but what especially intrigued me was the story behind it.

There is actually a place in Scotland known as Rest and Be Thankful. After a very arduous climb, travelers would reach the top and stop there to rest and give thanks to God for bringing them safely through the journey. While it is not the official name of the road or location, it has become widely known by that title because the climb is difficult and often dangerous. Even today, roads in that area are frequently closed due to landslides and repairs.

At the top, travelers can pause, sit, and look out over the breathtaking landscape before them. It becomes a place of rest, reflection, and gratitude — thanking God for creation, for safe travels, and for the gift of rest itself.

When we think about God as our rest and refuge, our minds naturally turn to the Psalms. Let’s look at just a couple of verses together.

Psalm 33, beginning with verse 20, says:

“Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and shield.
Our heart is glad in Him,
because we trust in His holy name.
Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in You.”

And Psalm 34:8 says:

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed are those who take refuge in Him.”

No matter what is happening around us or what circumstances we face, our hearts can be glad because our hearts are in Christ. We know that He is sovereign, that He holds us securely in His hands, and that He walks with us through every season of life.

While Scotland may have a literal place called Rest and Be Thankful, every day is an opportunity for us to rest and be thankful in the Lord. He blesses us continually — with breath in our lungs, hearts that beat, family and friends, community, and the fellowship of His people.

Most importantly, we can rest and be thankful because our salvation is secure in Christ alone. There is no arduous climb we must make to earn God’s love or favor. Jesus has already accomplished everything for us through His life, death, and resurrection. Because of Him, we are free to rest in His grace and give thanks.

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week. May you find moments each day to pause, breathe deeply, rest in the Lord, and be thankful — letting your heart be glad because your heart belongs to Christ.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Lord, we thank You for being our refuge and our rest. We thank You for being our everything. Open our eyes to the many blessings You pour out upon us each day. Give us hearts that seek after You and Your will, and lips that joyfully proclaim the good news that we are forgiven through Jesus Christ. Watch over us, hold us, and keep us always in Your love. This we pray in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

My dears, have a wonderful rest of your week. I look forward to worshiping with you this coming Sunday as we rest and give thanks together.

Until then, God bless.

Pastor Malinak