God blesses those who work for peace,
for ​they will be called the children of God.
​

What does it mean to be called a child of God?
Think about your own children or what it means to be your parent's child. 
Is there any greater comparison for us to understand the love of Christ?
There is nothing like the love of a parent for their child.
​

​"Blessed are those who mourn 
​for they shall be comforted."

Labor Day Dad Joke:

A father said to his son, "You know, most people don't have to work today,
​ because it's Labor Day."

His son replied, "Then shouldn't it be called No-Labor Day?" 
​

​If you are working today, we at Your Praying Friend want to say a special thank you!
Thank you to our healthcare workers, law enforcement, military, retail employees, and so many more!
We need more hard working, dedicated employees, especially in today's society, when the government would prefer to incentivize you to stay home. 
​Nothing in life is free.
​Thank you! 
​

​"No matter how much you want something, laziness won't help you achieve it, 
but hard work will reward you with more than enough."

"You should grow as believers in all these ways, more and more. When you live in that way, it will show that you really know our Lord Jesus Christ. People will see that your life has good results."

What are the ways in which Simon Peter is telling us we should grow?
If we read all of chapter one, which is a very short chapter, we will see that he tells us to add faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, patience, devotion to God, kindness, and love. 
​

Aren't you grateful that God doesn't just tell us to figure life out on our own? 
Unlike any other religion, Christians have a personal relationship with a loving and helpful Father. One who is intrinsically interested in the innermost desires of his creation. 
He is invested in us. 
​

​"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away."

​God gifts rest to the weary and graciously provides joy to the sorrowing. 
I don't know if you're anything like me, but in my times of deep sadness and painful sorrowing I didn't always feel rested or joyful. 
Instead I experienced sleepless nights and mental anguish.
​

Does that mean there's something we must do to receive his rest and joy?
Of course he could and he may freely gift it, but isn't it true that during our most desperate times we come to the end of ourselves? We learn that somethings (many things) are beyond our control. 
We learn to rely on him.

When our faith is rooted in him we can experience joy through our struggles. True joy. The kind that cancer, divorce, addiction, abuse, or heartbreak can't destroy. 
Our weariness doesn't last forever. 
He does provide rest. 
Our sorrowing subsides.
He showers us with joy. 
​

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are so good to us.
In this world we experience a range of emotions.
If we never knew heartache we would never know love. 
We're in awe of your design. 
Help us to find the purpose in our pain. 
We pray that you would provide rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing. 
Lord, when we encounter suffering, remind us to turn to you. 
We trust that in you our strength is renewed and through you we have victory. 
We love you Jesus! 

​Amen
​

Psalms 73:26