Don’t you just love that translation of this passage in Matthew? The Message translation has become one of my favorite translations lately, especially since my husband bought me a Message Bible for Easter (Yes, he is a keeper!)! The words just seem to roll together like a well laid story beckoning me to continue reading further and further into the Word of God. 

So, how about it, my sweet friend? Are you tired or worn out? Does every day feel like a struggle to you? Are you wondering if God can show you the way to a “real rest”? Does the sound of the alarm buzzer in the mornings leave you groaning with disappointment that the night is over because you now have to face the day? Let me share with you a time when I felt exactly the same way.

At the beginning of the year, life felt like it was ganging up on me. My job was overwhelming and forcing me to work close to 60 hours every week just to keep up, not even to get ahead. My six year old and three year old were growing up quickly and so needed mom to be there and provide that nurturing spirit which moms are supposed to offer to their children. I felt like I needed to be there for all of their school and preschool activities – which meant even more work had to be done from home in the evenings. Our women’s ministry at church was quickly taking off, which meant that outreach to the women of the church was growing by leaps and bounds. Finally, this new ministry, Christ Compels, officially came into being. Whew! It makes me tired even now to think about it all. 

Through all of this, I kept hearing God’s voice whisper to me and lead me to the verses above, “Lean on Me, sweet child, and rest in Me.” However, I was superwoman and could do it all with a smile on my face. Then, rock bottom hit – with a thud. It started with an innocent sinus infection that I weathered without even missing a day of work. A week and a half later, the sinus infection returned on our way home from a weekend in Gatlinburg coupled with a fever, some really sore ears, and a cough that shook my entire body. I knew I had to go to the doctor with this one and could not get through it alone. 

Imagine my surprise when the doctor diagnosed me with acute bronchitis, a severe sinus infection, and double ear infections. Six prescriptions later (including one for a week off from work), I found myself lying on the couch doing absolutely nothing except resting. I slept for almost three days straight and then rested on and off for the next four before feeling even remotely human again. God was teaching me how to rest by a most difficult way. If only I had heeded His calling prior to this and rested in Him, I might not have gotten to the point that I had reached with my illness.

The NIV version of verse 28 from above says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus beckons us to come to Him with all of our weariness and burdens and give them over to Him. In return, He will give us REST. God is so concerned about resting that He even dedicated a full day to it during creation. Genesis 2:2 says, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all of his work.” God did not rest because He needed to; He rested to give us the example that we are to take time to cease all of our activities and just enjoy a time of peace. Dear One, I pray that today you will take the time to rest in your Heavenly Father!

Pray with me: Precious God, how wonderful You are to give us such a powerful example of taking time in our lives to truly rest. We can cease all of our activities knowing that You are ultimately in control of it all. May we not get to the point where we have to stop and rest. Instead help us to choose to take the time to experience the peace that You can provide to us. We desire to “be still and know that You are God." We love You so much, God, and place our lives in Your hands. We pray all of this in the name above all names, the name at which every knee will one day bow, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!