Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy 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.

Reflection

Jesus asks us to come to him. This means that he is not going to force himself upon us. The question that I have this morning is are we taking him up on this offer? Are we actually coming to him with what is going on in our lives.

He mentions those that are weary and heavy burdened. I feel that, those words lean into a lot of what you and I are feeling in these moments.

Are we bringing what is weighing on our minds and hearts to Jesus? Second, he says learn from me. One of the things Jesus models so well is that when he needed rest, he took it. He would retreat to spend time with his father. What does it look like for us to retreat? How do we get a moment of quiet to hear from God, to get into the Scriptures and experience rest?

As my wife has been watching our son throughout the week, she confessed to me the other night that she is struggling to find a moment to rest. As we continued to talk it became clear that she needs moments in the day where she can disconnect and find rest, so for an hour each day I come upstairs to watch Jack, so that she can experience rest.

That is what works for her but what about you? Where do you need to create space in the day to retreat and encounter Jesus in the chaos?

Let us work this week to identify moments of rest and lean into them. Allow this prayer to help guide you and keep these words with you each day.

Prayer

Almighty God, who after creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heave; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.