Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Here’s how blog topics are birthed in me: I read a scripture, such as the one just quoted, and a word will strongly speak to me. In this case, rest. Then, it seems, this “word” appears everywhere I turn. After perhaps seeing the subject ten or so times, it becomes A Word for me!
Rest, not sleep, has been difficult for me to learn. Sitting still is not in my genetic makeup, but in more recent years I have practiced resting and am getting comfortable doing it. What is this rest our Lord challenges us to find in Him? The Greek word is anapauo (Strong’s #373), the word describes a ceasing of toil; a refreshment; an intermission.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden…Jesus gives the invitation but we must choose to go - remember, Christ is a Gentleman, never forcing Himself on anyone.
Take My yoke upon you…the yoke symbolizes relationship. Do we have a personal, one-on-one relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? In verse 30, My yoke is easy… being in relationship with the Son of God is not hard! He is a low-maintenance friend, not demanding, but, oh so deserving!
…and learn from Me…“walk with Me, chill out with Me, hang out with Me.” If we do this, we learn how gentle and humble our Lord really is.
…you will find rest for your souls [minds]…a favorite woman preacher of mine, Joyce Meyer, has taught us that the battlefield is in our minds and to lay those battles down and find rest should be our top priority!
Is it really this simple to find such rest in our upside-down world? Honestly, I believe it is - because Jesus says it is - the difficult part of it, is the choosing. When He invites us to “come to Him”, we must make a conscious choice to go or not go. If we go, His rest becomes our rest. If we choose not to go, and continue in our own striving and doing, then, we will continue carrying our own burdens. I don’t know about you, sisters, but I’m choosing to go and find rest for my weary soul.
Rejoicing in His Rest!
Whenever anything begins to disintegrate your life with Jesus Christ, turn to Him at once and ask Him to establish rest; never allow anything to remain which is making the unrest. Oswald Chambers
Excellent word. I love this verse and give it out a lot but seldom do I take it for myself.
He wants us to rest.
Good word Sister.
Great post Ms. Susan! If the One who never sleeps nor slumbers, rested on the 7th day of creation — then we would be wise to follow His example.
Thank you for your message - it's very refreshing.
God bless you,
Aleysha
Aleysha, my husband made a comment this afternoon about "having to do something today" after we had been at worship and helping my mom with some new furniture. I reminded him that "even God Himself had to take a day for rest". You are so right, we are wise to follow our Dad's example. Amen!