Rev Renewal:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)”

“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 (Matthew 11:29)”

“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11:30)”

With all that has taken place in the past few months, I do believe that many of us are feeling a sense of weariness.  We are experiencing the weight of emotions from the intense events that have come to shape our present world.  We are longing for some form of release.  So where do we turn?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.  Jesus speaks these words in Matthews gospel to his disciples.  He is aware of the burdens, the weariness of the people, and the desire to provide for their healing and rest. Do we take Jesus up on this?  Do we allow Jesus to take on our pain and struggles?  Or do we try to continue carrying the weight and baggage with us?

While we might have good intentions to surrender our weariness and burdens, the truth is we hang onto more than we let go.  Weariness and burdens are not positive elements and we don’t want to expose our need for help.  We don’t want to appear weak.  However, Jesus continues to inform us “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”. 

Jesus desires us to experience rest for our souls.  He is aware of the heaviness we carry and knows that we were not created to carry this weight alone.  Many times, though, we are embarrassed and ashamed that we have allowed ourselves to become overwhelmed with our burdens.

The good news is that Jesus does not give up on us.  While we may have carried a heavy load for days, months, or even years, Jesus’ words to us are always available.  The truth that through Christ’s death and resurrection we are redeemed from the powers of sin and darkness of this world.  The promise of forgiveness and the gift of grace are ours to receive.  This good news affirms Jesus’ words “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”.

May we allow Christ who bore our sins on the cross continue to provide for us a rest and renewal.  May we come to him in our times of weariness to receive the fullness of grace, mercy, and love.  As we let go of this heaviness, may it give us strength to walk with others sharing with them this great and glorious gift.

Blessings,
Pastor Arlyn ><>