Matthew 11:28-30 – Tell Me the Story

Sick and Tired

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Are you sick and tired? Tired of all the stress and struggle at work? Tired of feeling like your kids’ taxi driver? Tired of the news? the world situation? I have felt all these things. That’s why I love this Scripture: Jesus said, “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” (Matthew 11:28-30).

That’s the answer! Rest for your soul. When my head hits the pillow at night, I still feel like I’m spinning, like on a merry-go-round, and I whisper a prayer to God, “Give me rest and peace.” He says to me, “Be still.” It takes a while before the spinning stops, but I keep pleading for help. I fall asleep praying, “Help me, Jesus. Help me Jesus.” And God is faithful. He is always with me to comfort me and give me peace.

THINK ABOUT IT

When my heart returns to Matthew 11:28-30, I think of being yoked with Jesus. In middle-eastern thinking, a yoke is a teaching. It makes the next phrase make sense to me: “learn from me.” I particularly like the next part–being yoked (as with oxen) with Jesus. He is gentle and humble in heart, and I will find rest for my soul. Being yoked with Jesus is like partnering with Him. He is with me to help me, encourage and strengthen me. He bears the load with me. This makes my work easier. Even Jesus says, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

PRAY ABOUT IT

Thank you, Lord, that you partner with me to lighten my burden and give me rest. Help is what I need. Rest is what I long for. Be in me today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God’s Opportunity

Have you ever felt inadequate, imperfect, weak or like a failure? Do you experience anxiety, anger, despair or loneliness? Does your health limit you from doing things you want or need to do? I think we all have had these experiences. Friend, our shortcomings and limitations do not surprise God.

Paul, called by God to preach the good news to the Gentiles and write many of the books in the New Testament, had what he said was a thorn in his side. He prayed several times for God to take it away, but the Lord said to him, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

Paul didn’t get upset because God didn’t give him what he asked. He said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

THINK ABOUT IT

Have you considered that your hard times are God’s opportunity? Friend, He doesn’t want you to struggle aimlessly. This is what Jesus said: “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” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Imagine what it means to be yoked with Jesus. He is gentle and humble, yet willing to lead, willing to help you. Instead of being stressed, be blessed by asking Him for help. He waits for your prayer. He longs for you to be dependent on Him.

PRAY ABOUT IT

Holy Father, thank you for Jesus, willing to help in times of trouble. Open our eyes. Open our hearts to receive your great mercy and help. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Come and Rest

Are you at the end of you? Do you experience weariness or burnout? Do you think your burdens are too much to carry? Then help is on the way. I have been tired and worn out. Nothing I did made things better, no matter how hard I worked. I wanted to give up and even told God I didn’t want to go on anymore.

He was there that dark night of my despair. He heard my cries for help. I’ve learned that our God is amazing. He never sleeps or slumbers. He is available in the dark of night or the light of day.

My favorite Scripture verse for times I feel tired and weary is Matthew 11:28-29: “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.”

Imagine the Lord saying to you when you’re tired and weary, “Come and rest.” It can refresh your soul. I used to feel guilty for resting, but it was like I ran into the arms of Jesus when I took the words, “Come and rest” to heart. Imagine being yoked with the gentleness and humbleness of God. Yes, gentleness–not judgmental; humbleness–not condescending. Oxen are yoked together to make the work easier. Being yoked with God will make our work easier too, because He says, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” He is stronger than anything we face. He can help us through our anxiety and despair.

THINK ABOUT IT

As Christ’s followers, it has occurred to me that we could be Christ to others as we let His love and mercy flow through us. We could show love and compassion as Jesus does. We could be gentle and helpful as He is, and make others’ work easier. So where do we sign up? Where do we find those in need of love or mercy or gentleness? Well, when we pray for God to show us opportunities, He will open our eyes to those in need.

PRAY ABOUT IT

Lord Jesus, show us opportunities to reach out to those who need your love and mercy. Help us to be flexible with our time and to allow interruptions to our day. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Come as You Are

Have you ever attended a “come as you are party?” Many years ago friends woke me up early in the morning. It was during the days when I wore curlers in my hair to bed. Friends drove a bunch of us girls in our pajamas and curlers to a downtown Oklahoma City restaurant on the 9th floor. However, the elevator stopped on the way up, and we got stuck between floors for two hours. Can you imagine how embarrassed we were when we got off the elevator?

Aside from silly parties and jokes, we live in tough times. People have experienced loss of homes, jobs, health, wealth, loved ones, and more. People are depressed and lonely. You may be one who is out of work, but you still have bills and your family needs shelter and food. The despair can make you feel as if God has forgotten you. He has not. You may think that you have to get your life in order before you could even cry out to Him in your need. Be encouraged! Come as you are.

I have been in despair and I cried out to God. I know He heard me, because I began to feel amazingly loved, even before things got better. I began to read the Bible, and these words comforted me: “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” (Matthew 11:28-30).

THINK ABOUT IT

I was a single mom, and I didn’t know how I would pay bills or feed my kids. I didn’t know what it meant to be yoked with Jesus. Two oxen are yoked together to make their work (burden) easier. Jesus said He was gentle and humble and I would find rest for my soul. He said His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Imagine partnering with God. I began to surrender to Jesus in the midst of my problems. I didn’t think I had time to devote to Him, but I got up 15 minutes early so I would have time to read the Bible and pray. Later I got up 30 minutes early. I began to linger in God’s presence in the morning, and I discovered that my days got easier. My problems didn’t go away, but I had a real Friend and Partner to walk with me through hard times.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him” (Lamentations 3:22-24).

PRAY ABOUT IT

Holy Father, we surrender our despair and loneliness to you. Thank you for your amazing love and compassion. Help us to seek you in the morning to find strength to face the day. Thank you that you never sleep or slumber. You are always available whether in the dark of night or the light of day. Be with us even now. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

An Unhurried Life?

Janell Stratton Marton in Mountain Bicycle Race

Do you agree we live in a hurry-up and wait world? I am in the habit of over scheduling myself and wondering why I’m so tired. My daughter, Janell Stratton Marton, and her son Luke enjoy mountain bicycle racing. That’s a little faster than I’ve ever dreamed of going. However, my daily to-do list has often been over the top. Yet, I’ve enjoyed checking off accomplishments as I finished them.

In contrast, when I look at the life of Jesus, I can’t imagine Him having a to-do list or a schedule to keep. He allowed interruptions in His ministry. For example, on the way to Jairus’ house to raise his daughter from death, He healed a woman who had been sick for twelve long years. Another time He paused His day to heal a man born blind.

As a mom, school teacher, real estate agent and mountain biker, Janell’s days are scheduled pretty tight, but she allows interruptions if she sees a person in need. As she was leaving a super market one day in a hurry to get home and cook dinner, she saw an older woman who apparently lost her car keys. “Can I help you?” Janell said. Focused on the ground, the woman replied, “I dropped my keys and can’t find them.” Janell said, “I’ll be right back,” and went to her car to get a blanket. She laid down the blanket and crawled under the woman’s car. “Found ’em!” she said. This act of kindness didn’t take but a few minutes before both women were on their way.

The COVID isolation has slowed down my days. The social calendar is not so full, but I find time to kayak or go on boat rides with my husband or spend time with friends. I don’t feel guilty for resting like I used to. In fact, one of my favorite Scriptures is Matthew 11:28-30: Jesus said, “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.”

THINK ABOUT IT

Can you imagine what it might be like to be yoked with Jesus? I think it would be an adventure, but not at all stressful. One of the best things I’ve done in my life since I retired was to take off my watch. I’ve never worn one again. What peace! What freedom! My days go smoother because I’m not watching the time. This has freed me to be aware of others who might need my help.

PRAY ABOUT IT

Thank you, Lord, for Jesus and His example of an unhurried life. Teach me to be more like Him. Help me to recognize opportunities, like Janell, to show compassion along the way to wherever I’m going. In Jesus’ name, Amen.