Matthew 11:28-30 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” ~~ NLT
Matthew 11:28 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” ~~ The Message
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Put My yoke upon your shoulders—it might appear heavy at first, but it is perfectly fitted to your curves. Learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble of heart. When you are yoked to Me, your weary souls will find rest. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. ~~ The Voice
Three different translations, and yet I found the one single word that I was exhaling into this morning: rest.
This has been a very busy year for me and it’s only April ~~ there have been days that have felt like weeks and weeks that blurred into months. I have found myself uttering under my breath, “Lord, help me make it to Thursday!” And when I do, I seem to hear the heels of my spirit “skidding and sliding into home base.”
Ever feel this way, Girlfriend?
A wedding and two college graduations ~~ in the same month ~~ within two weeks. It’s enough to make my hair curl. But these are my precious children, and God has Blessed this household so that I can experience all of this.
In between all the preparations, I am learning to commune more with God ~~ expressing my heart and exposing my concerns and thoughts. Prayer Breaths, I call them, are being spoken more frequently. My faith is shared more openly and freely. I’m consciously aware of when temptation to become hurried and frazzled creep upon me and I remember to call on The Lord for strength to lean on Him instead of my impetuous self. Being tired and worn out is a breeding ground for poor decisions and bad responses.
Rest for a weary soul ~~ that soothes my mind and calms me way down ~~ down to my knees in sweet gratitude for grace and mercy.
I love how the The Voice translation says that God’s yoke is “perfectly fitted to my curves.” It sounds tender hearted ~~ that the God of The Universe would give such consideration to “my curves” (my life and it’s events and particular circumstances). He loves me that much.
There are lonely times when it seems that no one truly understands the magnitude of what I’m presently living ~~ that the fatigue cannot be fully understood by even my closest confidantes. And I get it ~~ these are actually moments that are most appreciated by my Savior ~~ these are His Moments with me ~~ where He wants some “one-on-one” time. In the heat of it all, and in my busyness, He offers me REST from it all. When I feel like I’m on the verge of turning inside-out while spinning upside-down, He gives me PEACE.
But funny thing, I must willingly let go of what I believe to be “important.” At least, long enough for Him to exchange my burdens for His unforced rhythms of grace, as The Message translation says it. I like that: unforced. To me, that says “surrendered.” And that, my Sister, is a choice.
So if I truly seek and desire rest, I must choose to surrender to God’s perfectly-fitted “yoke,” because He will not overburden me; He will not overwhelm me. AAAAHHH!
Even as I scribble this tiny piece (“peace”), I am divinely comforted ~~ simply dwelling on His unlimited love and mercy have soothed my senses and I’m sure have made life more pleasant for those in my immediate surroundings. (Smile Family, mama is calm now!)
God’s Word never returns void.
Take refuge in knowing that your God is BIGGER than anything that is troubling you right now, Girlfriend ~~ let Him handle it through you. Let Him take you to that place of R-E-S-T.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~
LindaRJohnson
T2T Visionary
Titus Two 