Read: Genesis 32:13-34:31, Matthew 11:7-30, Psalm 14:1-7 & Proverbs 3:19-20
Ever feel like you can’t slow down long enough to stop and rest? In our fast-paced culture, it’s often difficult to stop and take a breath. As Christians, we want God to use us to help others come to know Him. So when we grow overwhelmed and weary, we often feel guilty for wanting to step back, gain some perspective and relax. Jesus addresses this exact predicament and tells us how to overcome it.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus travels to Galilee and speaks to the crowds, saying, “come to me, all you who are weary and 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 is speaking to people who do not know Him and have not put their faith in Him, but the truth in these verses applies to us as Christ followers, too! Jesus knows we get tired, and He tells us that it’s alright. We can come to Him with our fears, our anxieties and even our mistakes. He will give us rest.
Jesus doesn’t say “all you who are weary and burdened need to get it together because I want to use you.” He is not concerned with us losing ground or missing out on opportunities or messing up. Instead, Jesus says that when we are tired and feel overwhelmed we should run to Him, because He is the only one who can give us “rest for [our] souls.” And if we ignore this message, if we continue trying to live like Jesus without ever resting in Him, we will never make it as far as He has called us to go.
Take a moment and ask God to reveal to you how you might find rest in Jesus today.
