“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
As we dig into the topic of REST during the month of August this passage from Matthew is an amazing invitation from Jesus. I wonder how many of you reading this would answer YES to those questions; Tired? Worn out? And Jesus says “Come to me.” He says, “Get away with me” He says, “Walk with me and work with me”. He says, “Keep company with me.” Perhaps all of those invitations are what makes the rest “real” that He gives. Maybe just taking a nap or sleeping eight hours isn’t enough. Maybe there is more to rest than just sitting on the couch and scrolling through social media or watching tv. How are you doing at “keeping company” with Jesus?
Learning the unforced rhythms of grace – getting away with Jesus, listening to Him, talking with Him, being still in His presence, soaking in the truths in His word and remembering who He is and who you are as His loved and chosen child is what brings real rest. It is all about being in a relationship with Jesus not just religion – a list of do’s and don’ts and have to’s. It is so much more. There is delight, and peace, and joy and He is WITH us through all of the ups and downs and IN the overwhelm and chaos.
This invitation from Jesus is for everyone! And it brings hope to our tired, worn out, weary and exhausted hearts. It is beyond freeing to hear that these rhythms are unforced. And they aren’t heavy or ill-fitting. So what works for me may not work for you. And it is not one size fits all, you don’t have to pray a certain way or only read your Bible one way. You can experiment with different methods and change things up if you need a change. Try listening to God’s word instead of reading it. Try writing out the passage and reflecting on it in your journal. Try praying out loud when you are in your car or on a walk. Find what is restorative for you. Is it being still and taking three deep breaths and just listening? Is it being active and out in nature? Is it digging in the dirt in your garden and reflecting on who God is? Is it praying with a friend and rehearsing what you know to be true of God out loud in prayer? Is it being alone and picturing your favorite place and thanking God for what he has done? What are you willing to try? How will you be intentional in your Household about getting the rest you are offered and that you desperately need?
Lord, thank you for this invitation you have offered each of us. Thank you that we can come to you and get away with you. Please show us how to get the real rest that you give. We long to live freely and lightly and we know that because you have promised this to us you will follow through and give it to us. Revive our households through rest Lord, so we can live the life you want us to live. In your precious name Jesus, Amen.
