Rest for the weary

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

I am drawn to this scripture right now. It sits on my heart, waiting for me to act.

Are you weary? Are your shoulders heavy with the weight you carry? Of a job. Of illness. Of your family troubles. Of worry for your children?
He will take it and He will lovingly place His yoke over your shoulders, and gently, humbly guide you.

Sometimes it takes boldness to trust. Jesus said it only takes the faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain. You just need a little - but real - faith in Him to trust that He can do so much when all we have to give is so little. That this verse is true - we can come to Him exhausted and He can restore us.

And how can we turn that into compassion? If we are willing to trust Him for our rest, for His gentle guidance, His loving course corrections, to take our worries and stresses, how can we do that for others?

Is your home a place of rest from a wicked world for your children? Is it a place where your spouse is free from more burden? Are you guiding them to Him, or do you add yet more for them? Is your workspace free of worldly gossip, and instead a place where co-workers can rest in your humbleness?

It takes boldness of faith to know that compassion isn't weakness, that it won't make you a doormat. That the yoke He offers gives humble correction and gentle reproof. That when we are required to give the same to someone else, we can do it with the same loving and gentle way He does for us.

[Photo by Jason in Honduras, 2013]