Befriending Our Inner Enemies

How do we befriend our inner enemies lust and anger? By listening to what they are saying. They say, “I have some unfulfilled needs” and “Who really loves me?” Instead of pushing our lust and anger away as unwelcome guests, we can recognize that our anxious, driven hearts need some healing. Our restlessness calls us to look for the true inner rest where lust and anger can be converted into a deeper way of loving. There is a lot of unruly energy in lust and anger! When that energy can be directed toward loving well, we can transform not only ourselves but even those who might otherwise become the victims of our anger and lust. This takes patience, but it is possible. —Henri J. M. Nouwen, Bread for the Journey

Nouwen rightly observes: “Our restlessness calls us to look for the true inner rest.” Augustine’s famous words, “Our souls are restless until they find their rest in Thee,” speak to the deep longing every human heart experiences. We often seek fulfillment in success, relationships, or material possessions, yet these things never truly satisfy. This restlessness points to a deeper need—our need for God. Only in Him do we find true peace, because we were created for relationship with Him. Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” This is not just physical rest, but a soul-deep peace that only comes from abiding in Him. When we surrender our restless hearts to God, we discover the peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). Rest in Him does not mean an absence of trials, but a confidence that we are held by His love and sovereignty. The world may offer temporary distractions, but true fulfillment is found in knowing and trusting God. As we seek Him in prayer, Scripture, and worship, our restless striving is replaced with the assurance that we belong to Him. Today, may we pause, lay our burdens before Christ, and find our soul’s true rest in His presence. —DH