Come to Me and I Will Give you Rest
Matthew 11:28-30
How do you respond when someone asks you, “How are you doing?” A typical response from me is, “BUSY!” You’ve probably heard this response from others and most likely can relate to it yourself. Today’s society is fast paced. We like to multi-task and consider it a badge of honor to always be “plugged in”. But we were not made to be this way.
Think of the last time you truly rested. I am not simply saying the last time you were not working. I am saying the last time that you truly rested. Rest is ceasing to work or move in order to relax, refresh oneself, and recover strength. I don’t know about you, but I am typically more tired when I return from vacation than when I left!
Jesus offers us something infinitely better.
“Come to me, all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Jesus from Matthew 11:28-30)
Are you weary from the pace of your life? Are you burdened with constant pressures and worry? Come to Jesus and He will give you rest.
Jesus’ rest does not imply freedom from labor. Jesus offers you “Take my yoke and learn from me,” implying that we are to take our place of service as His follower. But He does promise that this “yoke is easy and this burden is light”.
We all need rest from physical labor. We need sleep and we need good sleep. We also need rest mentally. If our minds are going all the time, we will not have the peace of mind that we desperately need.
But perhaps most of all we need rest for our souls. Saint Augustine famously said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
Is your soul at rest? Come to Jesus and you will find rest for your soul.
Take this as a challenge … Sometime in the next 3 days, find a place that you can be alone and completely quiet (of course, no cell phone!) and take 30 minutes to simply listen to Jesus. Read these verses and ask Him to speak to you. You will be blessed, your burdens will be lightened, and you will find rest for your souls.