It’s been an off week at my house. A lot of stuff has been going on these past few weeks, and it’s been a little crazy and a bit stressful. But it’s been good, in a round-about way, because I’ve gotten to do a little bit of thinking.
If you’re a young person like me reading this, then you know what I’m talking about when I say that this time of our lives is frequently pretty stressful. There’s that biology project due in two weeks, finals coming up, maintaining tasks at home, working a job, keeping up with lessons and extra-curricular activities, and on top of that there’s all those little problems that life throws at you. (You know the kind I’m talking about.)
And then, if you’re like me, you’ll sit in your room and pull your hair, freaking out and all you can do is say, “Whyyyyyy?”
But, if you’re a stressed, busy young person like me, looking for a break from reality that isn't there to be found, then I’ve got some good news for you...
Jesus Christ gives peace and rest.
(Are those refreshing words, or is that just me...?)
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.”
One of the biggest things that stands out to me about Jesus’ words in this passage is how greatly this differs from other religions. Other religions will tell you to try harder, to keep working at it until you attain that state of peace or whatever... But Jesus doesn’t say to give it more effort, or to work harder because you obviously slipped up somewhere.
He says, come to Me. I will give you rest. You will find rest for your souls.
Jesus is where we find our peace in the storm, where we find our rest in the hard times. He’s not asking us to put more effort into it. He’s asking us to let go, and to trust Him.
He wants to be our rest. He wants us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened - because He wants to give us rest.
That’s special to me. When I’m stressing out over this thing over here, He wants me to come to Him. (Jesus wants me to come to Him... Are you smiling, too?) When I’m weighed down and burdened by a problem in life, He wants me to find rest for my soul in Him.
I think of the lyrics to Chris Rice’s song... “Run to Jesus”. When you are burdened, don’t find your “rest” in the world’s substitutes. Entertainment, medications, will serve as temporary distractions, but they will not give you rest. Run to Jesus. He will be your rest, your peace; He will lift your burden.
-Lauren
If you’re a young person like me reading this, then you know what I’m talking about when I say that this time of our lives is frequently pretty stressful. There’s that biology project due in two weeks, finals coming up, maintaining tasks at home, working a job, keeping up with lessons and extra-curricular activities, and on top of that there’s all those little problems that life throws at you. (You know the kind I’m talking about.)
And then, if you’re like me, you’ll sit in your room and pull your hair, freaking out and all you can do is say, “Whyyyyyy?”
But, if you’re a stressed, busy young person like me, looking for a break from reality that isn't there to be found, then I’ve got some good news for you...
Jesus Christ gives peace and rest.
(Are those refreshing words, or is that just me...?)
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.”
One of the biggest things that stands out to me about Jesus’ words in this passage is how greatly this differs from other religions. Other religions will tell you to try harder, to keep working at it until you attain that state of peace or whatever... But Jesus doesn’t say to give it more effort, or to work harder because you obviously slipped up somewhere.
He says, come to Me. I will give you rest. You will find rest for your souls.
Jesus is where we find our peace in the storm, where we find our rest in the hard times. He’s not asking us to put more effort into it. He’s asking us to let go, and to trust Him.
He wants to be our rest. He wants us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened - because He wants to give us rest.
That’s special to me. When I’m stressing out over this thing over here, He wants me to come to Him. (Jesus wants me to come to Him... Are you smiling, too?) When I’m weighed down and burdened by a problem in life, He wants me to find rest for my soul in Him.
I think of the lyrics to Chris Rice’s song... “Run to Jesus”. When you are burdened, don’t find your “rest” in the world’s substitutes. Entertainment, medications, will serve as temporary distractions, but they will not give you rest. Run to Jesus. He will be your rest, your peace; He will lift your burden.
-Lauren