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RestWednesday, December 7, 2005
Matthew 11:28-30
"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."
But Jesus is talking about burdens and weariness that comes from more than tired muscles. When people are hateful (or I am hateful), when people are strange (or I am strange) ... life feels ugly and hateful and hard. I don't always want to get out of bed in the morning. When I have something to worry about, and the worrying comes fast and uncontrolled, then I need to find a new weight, a new yoke. Jesus says he has just what I need. He's asking me to trust him, though, at the time when I feel most vulnerable. He wants me to give him control of the stuff I am most desperate to control myself. I must admit his words draw me in. The certainty he expresses in himself, in God's ability to handle these impossible loads, makes me want to trust him. He believes, and so I do too. That I fail to consistently do what he asks just doesn't make sense. It's a testimony to my self-centeredness, of course; and my lack of trust in others. But I can grow out of these things, as I practice what Jesus calls me to. I can learn to come to him, to give him the burdens, to take on his yoke. I can learn this art of resting. I am learning it. Jesus waits patiently while I do. Jesus, you stand strong and love me. There is no weakness and no doubt in you. Thank you for inspiring me to believe you and to trust you. |
I love to shovel snow because I love to be done shoveling snow. That makes sense, doesn't it? Just sitting around all the time, doing nothing, is boring and exhausting. What really feels great is to work awhile and then rest.