Rest

Proverbs warn of too much sleep and the value of rest verses being lazy. If one is not careful, one may take this warning a bit too far and work themselves into a tizzy to avoid being a “sloth”.

What about all the verses about rest? Calls to the weary? The heavy laden?

Jesus calls us, “Come to Me”, Matthew 11:28. Here he is opening the door of opportunity to unload burdens, to learn from him and to grow in our relationship with him.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Prior to that verse Jesus thanked God, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth” for His will and the way He reveals it. Then Jesus offers the rest for burdened souls by offering his own peace and comfort by the knowledge of who he truly is.

Resting in Jesus means placing things at his feet that make our heart heavy, that exhausts our soul, that grieve the Spirit and that keep our minds from focusing on his truth. We aren’t meant to carry everything ourselves. Jesus wants to be there with us. He tells us he wants to share the yoke with us and teach us along the way. He wants to share our life, every part of it, the good, the bad and the ugly. When we get to the other side of each obstacle, we glorify him in our growth. As he teaches us, and we learn, we become more Christlike and that is a wonderful thing to be.

Have you experienced the rejuvenating rest that Jesus gives?

Do you know the peace of “laying it at His feet”, going to him in prayer with the things that you are struggling to carry and allowing the weight of it to fall away from you? It is such a freeing and wonderful relief. Trusting him to handle things, give you your part and then following the guidance from the Holy Spirit to submit and be obedient is rejuvenating.

Let him work things out the way they need to go, and rest in the knowledge that he knows best. He loves you, He cares for you and He wants the best for you.

Rest assured! He provides…