Politicians and elected officials constantly offer rest from the troubled policies of the “other guy”, even if they were once “the other guy”.
Relationships offer rest, but too often they result in expectations that offer rest only when you make someone else happy.
You offer to help, but when your efforts fall short, once again, rest becomes elusive.
As parents, children, employees, citizens and friends, even as church goers, we are all looking for rest. Yet rest doesn’t come. We make it okay financially, and illness comes and drains rest away like the drip line of a medical delivery kit.
You keep looking for a way to find rest in yourself, rest in your soul, to figure things out! But in your heart you know this is a bad idea.
Jesus, in a shockingly gentle and yet abrupt command tells you and me to stop trying to figure everything out. He offers us the great exchange – replace your convoluted yoke of problem solving with his burden. Compared to the messy, impossible and improbable set of solutions you have concocted Jesus offers himself, his burdens and his heart.
Yes, you have to give up your plans and the things you wanted. But aren’t these the very things that have taken rest from you? Trust Christ, take the exchange, your life for his.
Whether you are new Christian, a struggling mom or daughter, a dad who has lost his way, Christ makes this offer of hope to you, this moment, find rest for your soul, now:
“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.”
There is more to say, but if you don’t start here, you won’t start at all!