Do all the things! That’s how we often approach life - balancing classes, internships, being on a million exec. teams, hanging out with friends, and finding time to do laundry. And while we expect the summer to be more relaxing, it often just fills up with a to-do list of its own. It’s exhausting.
Many of us have a deeper weariness as well. Relationships with family or friends are strained. We find out that our future isn’t going to look the way we dreamed. We turn on the news, and the world around us seems to be more messed up every day. Jesus has an invitation in the weariness.
Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
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What is a yoke? What does it mean to have an easy yoke?
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What are we called to do? What does Jesus promise he will do?
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What do we learn about Jesus’ character?
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What areas of your life are currently making you feel weary and burdened?
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What might it look like to learn from Jesus in those areas?
CLOSING REFLECTION
The church I went to as a kid had “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” painted above the altar - but not the rest of the verse. Without the second half of the passage, it can feel like we’re doing something wrong if we pray and our troubles still remain.
Instead, Jesus says to learn from him and take up his way of living. There’s still action to be taken.
Maybe we need to learn from scripture how Jesus would respond to the broken relationships and injustices around us.
Maybe we need to let the community of Christians support us in our pain.
Maybe we need to learn how to view ourselves through Jesus’ eyes rather than wrapping our self-worth up in the things we accomplish.
But in the end, the burden isn’t our own - it’s Jesus’.
Jesus may not promise us a cold drink on a tropical beach, but what he offers us is actually better - rest not just for our bodies, but for our very souls.
