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."
I have been noticing lately, in myself, and in most other people around me, that we each carry around a lot of heavy burdens. Sometimes we call them stresses, like: work stresses, marriage stresses, family stresses, responsibility stresses. We are all tempted to take on these various sources of stress, and say something like "I can get through this", or maybe even "Jesus, help me get through this". Now that last part, "Jesus, help me get through this", might seem ok, but think about what we might really be saying. Aren't we really saying: "I can almost handle this, Jesus, just give me enough of you to finish the task". Aren't we really still hanging on to the burden, and just asking for a little help lifting it. Let me read the verse again:
You have all heard this before, but just to refresh your memory, what is Jesus saying? Isn't he saying: "put down your burden at my feet, where I will take care of it for you, and pick up my burden, so you will "find rest for your soul". Isn't that what we want? Do we really want just a little help bearing the load? Wouldn't it be easier, calmer, more peaceful, more joyful, to let Jesus carry our stresses, our burdens.
When those stresses strike, why not make your prayer something like "Jesus I give this to you. I know you can and will handle it. Please give me your rest, so I can be a blessing to everyone I encounter, amen".
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
¶ 9:36 AM
