”
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
”
(Mt. 11:28-29).
“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” (Mt. 11:28-29).
I once went backpacking with a friend to a high mountain lake. The long trail climbed up a mountainside to a pass, beyond which lay a short downhill trail to our destination. As we climbed, the back and forth of the switchbacks began to take its toll on our wearying bodies. We had less than one hundred yards to go to the top of the pass when my friend suddenly stopped. He went to a knee, struggled to stand, and then quit trying. He simply couldn’t go on. Heat, altitude, the weight of our packs, and a lack of food stopped him dead in his tracks – gone were both his physical strength and his mental desire.
Ever feel that way in life? Exhausted, burned out – like you can’t go another step? Jesus’ words today helps remind us of three things we can do when we feel this way.
First, we can recognize that it is not abnormal to be weary. Sometimes we think, sometimes not even consciously, that the goal of Christian living is a happy, comfortable life where faith makes life easy. Distorted theologies such as the so-called “prosperity” gospel tells us it is God’s will for every Christian to be successful, healthy, and rich – and that if we don’t have these things, we don’t have enough “faith.”
While is nothing wrong with having things go right, real life is more than this, isn’t it? Real life is also full of disappointment, hardship, pain, self-doubt, loneliness, and pain. People in the Scripture experienced it. Even Jesus experienced it. “My soul is overwhelmed,” Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane, “to the point of death.” And then there is this. Even when things are going well, there is often a lingering sense within that something is still not all that it should be.
What’s the problem? Just this: we live in a world that is broken. Larry Crabb, Christian psychologist, puts it this way: “The simple fact we must face is this: something is wrong with everything … A core sadness that will not go away is evidence … of honest living in a sad world.”
Recognizing this is the beginning. But Jesus desires more for us, which we see in this second thing we can do when we are weary: we can go to go to Jesus with our need. There is nothing you cannot bring to Jesus. No matter how ugly. No matter how matter how embarrassing. No matter how sinful. If you are hurting, tell Jesus! If you are tired, let Him know. If you have failed, talk to Him about it. You can come to Jesus just the way you are, because the truth is this: there is no other way to come! You see, this is why Jesus came – so that through coming to Him we could find the life that God desires for us!
And this brings me to this final word of hope for the weary we discern in Jesus’ words: we can find rest in Jesus. This is not meant to be a glib statement meant to minimize the pain you might be experiencing. Rather, it is to point to a truth to which the Scripture bears testimony – that we were created by God for a relationship with God, and that when we walk with Him, we can begin to experience the life He desires for us – even in the midst of the hard things.
Friends, I do not know the situation you find yourself in today. But I do know this. Jesus says that we can know hope that goes beyond our circumstances, and that it comes to us in a relationship with God through Himself. So hear the invitation of Jesus, and come to Him.
Remember my friend who collapsed on the way up the mountainside? We stopped, ate lunch, rested – and then continued on. We made it to that mountain lake – and were thrilled by the breathtaking beauty.
Friends, know this good news – in Christ you too can make it – and with Him it will be worth trekking on.
Dr. Mark Inouye is pastor of Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church.
