“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 CSB
Come to me all who are weary…what a beautiful promise Jesus offers to us in this verse. A promise of rest. And not just “why don’t you lie down and take a nap” rest, BUT rest for our souls. I don’t know about you, but I could use some soul rest.
The first sentence in the book “The Road Less Traveled” by M. Scott Peck states, “Life is difficult.” The first time I read it, I chuckled to myself, thinking, “What a great way to start a book”...what a naive 20-year-old I was. Life has a tendency to throw us curveballs along the way. Broken relationships & friendships, infertility, death of a marriage, death of a parent. M Scott Peck wasn’t joking!!
This has been a difficult season of life for me. I have felt discouraged, overwhelmed, scared, and alone. I have often prayed this verse, pleading with the Father for “soul rest”. I am incredibly grateful for the Father’s love and care for us. He has surrounded me with amazing friends who feel more like family than friends, a church that I love, and family that is walking alongside me as I navigate this season. He is such a good God! There are many days that I don’t experience the rest I’m asking for, yet I believe God is faithful, and I hold on to the promise in Romans 8:28 that says, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
So, if you are in a chapter of life that is difficult, may I encourage you to hold tight to the Father. I know that there are moments I struggle to feel His peace and His presence, but I hold on to His promises. Steph Regier has shared with me that one of her favorite verses is 2 Chronicles 20:12, “Our God, will you not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast number that comes to fight against us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you.” I don’t know what’s ahead, but I do know who to look to.
Praise the Lord!
Cory