Jesus said, “I will cause you to rest.” These words are truly refreshment for any weary soul. He will cause us to take rest if we are overburdened and heavy-laden. Cause defined is when something is brought about. I love that our Lord can bring about that which we need in our souls when we are lacking and weighted down. Today let us meditate upon the fact that the Lord desires to bring our souls to rest, and He desires our souls be kept at rest.
This scripture from Matthew 11 reveals how human tendency is to try to do things in our own ability. Think about this my friends…. our bodies were not created to worry, and bear the stress and anxiety it brings. Just think how easy it is for us to rely on our own ability and strength to accomplish things. We in turn are capable of overworking our minds and bodies in a way that we were never created to do. Let us live and move and have our being in Him just as He intended our life to be…in His rest, in His strength, and by His grace.
In verse twenty eight Jesus was giving an invitation to the overburdened and weary. He spoke of relieving and refreshing the weary soul. As I meditate upon this scripture I image Him softly speaking to me saying, “Come to me, give me all your care, anxieties and worries, and I promise to carry it all for you.” This reminds me of Psalm twenty three where the Psalmist said in the very beginning “He makes me to lay down in green pastures” and “He leads me beside the still waters.” The first step in the right direction when our soul is burdened down is to to go to Him. Yes, simply GO to Him. Do not turn to your own means of rest and peace. Just lay down and rest. Be still and know that He is the God of all strength.
Let us look a little closer at this word -yoke-. Farmers used to yoke the young ox with the old experienced ox to train them. The old ox would take the major load, and the young one would walk along and learn from him. If you read this verses in light of this, it brings so much light to the scripture. As we walk along side of Jesus, and learn of Him, things will go so much better for us. Our Lord knows the rugged paths that we will walk at times, and He will bear the burden of those journeys.
Jesus desires that we submit to His way and His Word. He desires to be our strength when we are weak and weary. If you are under any burden of sin, guilt, anxieties or worry please consider humbly giving your burden to Him. Walk with Him today, cast your care, and permit Him to bear your burden for He is the Burden Bearer.