The Rest of Jesus

This past Sunday we spent time during our corporate worship contemplating Jesus’ words from Matthew 11: “Come to me all you who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” 

As I listened to this Gospel text on Sunday, I was aware of my own tendency to let these words exist in some Hallmark form, floating out in disembodied space, but making no real contact with my life. And yet, If I’m honest, and I suspect if you’re honest, we might acknowledge that we often are weary, and we often are carrying heavy burdens. Could these words actually make contact with our real life? 

Jesus says, “Come to me,” but how do we do that?

I was praying recently with a friend, and the Spirit directed us to Psalm 131, a meditation on coming home and being at rest with God. “But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.” I love that image: of God’s presence being what I am hungry for, and of settling down and being at rest with God. Dear friend, learning to pray is at the heart of how we come to rest in God. 

So maybe, this week, we can do two things: First, maybe we can name the parts of us that are weary, and name the heavy burdens we carry. Do this knowing God doesn’t need a polished version of you. You don’t have to omit anything from your real life in order to be at home with God. You are a friend of the Good Shepherd, and his love can and does hold your life. Second, pray. And by pray, I don’t mean air your laundry list of needs and hopes with God (though of course God always wants to hear). Rather, pray by ceasing from movement, ceasing from striving, ceasing from noise. Pray by coming to rest with God. 

A few simple words might help you settle into God’s presence and love. Maybe you can pray: “Jesus, my soul finds rest in you.” Or ask the Spirit to give you a word or phrase. Return to these words as often as you need. Try it for 5 or 10 minutes. Lay on the floor. Take deep breaths. Rest in God.

May you experience the love and rest of Jesus this week, wherever you are.