"Rest for the Weary"

“Come unto me all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”. (Matt 11:28)

Rest is something we all long for at the end of the day, but for some rest is not easy come by. There is always something more needing to be done that gets in the way of replenishing rest, having responsibilities that keeps one awake at night, or long-sleepless nights brought on by an overworked mind, or restless anxiety that come through the worry and fears we carry.  And yet often when the rest we need is made available to us we fail to take it.  Jesus in the gospel of Matthew, addressing those experiencing the anxieties of his day, says, “Come unto me all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”(11:28) The rest that Jesus offers of course is not just a nights rest of replenishing sleep, but a rest that restores the soul, lightens or calms the mind, and strengthens us physically. Jesus of course is referring to the rest that comes in knowing that we do not have to carry life’s burdens alone, Christ Jesus will carry them with or for us.  The poem ‘Footprints in the sand’ written by Mary Stevenson is a great reminder of how Jesus so lovingly carries us when the burdens of this life get too heavy for us to bear, “Lord, I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?” The Lord replied, “ My precious child, when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, it is then I carried you.” What a wonderful image of a loving Saviour caring for his children that he would take us in his arms and carry us through the burdens of this life, even when we didn’t recognize him to be there. “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” (11:29). The yoke Jesus refers to is not one like we might imagine worn by a farm animal, worn for arduous labour, but rather the yoke of God’s enduring presence to lighten our load and carry us through the difficult times this life brings to us. “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”(Matt 11:30). May God’s peace be with you.

Blessings,

Rev. Hannah+