Christian Writers Circle

Receive Rest from Jesus
by Judy Hitson

Matthew 11:28-30 NASB
28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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 SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
30 “For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.”

Have you experienced times of being weary and heavy-laden?

I sure have.

It wasn’t until I was in my latter thirties, young in my walk with the Lord as a born again Christian, that I began to learn how to rest in the Lord. He blessed me to meet a sister in Christ who had a heart for prayer. Each time I called her, thinking she would pray, her first words were, “Just rest Judy. Just rest.”

What was she talking about?

I had no idea! Those words frustrated me.

Finally I said to the Lord, If I call her and she tells me to rest one more time, I think I’ll scream.

Then one day in my Bible reading the words of Matthew 11:28-30 came alive. The Lord began to teach me from Scripture what my friend was trying to say. He spoke His word to me, “Come to Me Judy, you are weary and heavy-laden. I will give you rest.”

But how do I do that Lord?

Whether at home with our children or at work with difficult challenges, I was desperate to find rest in exchange of being weary and heavy -laden. I wanted to be gentle and humble in heart like Jesus instead of being loud when upset with the children or sense failure at work when given a difficult assignment.

With God’s promise to find rest for my soul (my mind, will and emotions), I’d pray, Lord teach me to put on Your yoke for this is hard and heavy. You say your yoke is easy and Your load is light.

This was the beginning for me to receive rest from Jesus. It brings to mind the story of creation in Genesis.

In the beginning, God worked six days and rested from His work on the seventh day. This is key for us to learn, rest from our work so God can work through us.

Prayer: Jesus thank You for giving rest to our souls when we come to You weary and heavy-laden. Amen.