Matthew 11:28-30
“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.”
"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are
Octobers." -Anne Shirley
This week the leaves on the deciduous trees burst with
color. Autumn shone her glorious scarlets, golds, and ambers. God’s paintbrush kissed
the sky with azure blue. What a lovely time.
As I look at the trees and think about their preparation for
winter, I know they will rest. Each oak and maple will shed their leaves, and
their systems will slow as they slumber through the cold months. Sometimes, I
envy the trees. They have a cycle that guarantees time for respite and refreshment.
In the busy world we live in, rest seems like a bad word.
Stopping to admire the trees and renew the spirit is often overlooked. Maybe
because I’m older now, I value slowing down and sitting with Jesus more than
ever.
In Matthew 11, Jesus is speaking to a group of people in
Galilee, and I’m guessing He’s also addressing his disciples. The folks He
preached to experienced weariness. They were in the midst of the friction
between those who believed Jesus was Messiah and those who ridiculed Him. Jesus
invited them to come to Him. When he mentions his humble and gentle heart, it
feels like a warm hug for my weary soul. Jesus’ yoke is easy, and His burden is
light because Jesus shares our needs with God, who hears our prayers.
What a beautiful cycle the trees experience and what an
amazing cycle we have when Jesus takes our burdens and carries them to Father
God. Our load is eased, and we can rest.
Take your cares to Jesus, find rest in Him, and value the
time to slow down.
