“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
…are you restless, tired, filled of worry, overwhelmed by stress and fear? Have faith and remember that there is someone that offers rest for your weary soul. The believer was never promised to live a life free from stress and burdens. In fact, a preacher once said that every blessing comes with a burden, and this does not have to be a negative thing, but simply means that we must care for and appreciate the many things gifted to us. We turn on the news and it is anxiety producing. We go to social media, and we are riddled with insecurities. But where do we cross the line? When do the blessings gifted us become overwhelming? Or when do the problems of this world, sickness, poverty debt become too burdensome for us?
Our burdens become overwhelming when we take our focus off Jesus. He is who makes all things possible and renews our strength. In the account found in Matthew 14:22-33 we read the account of Peter walking on water. In this account we find a daring and zealous Peter being called out to come towards the Master, Jesus. The Bible recounts that Peter got down out of the boat and walked on water, but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and this caused him to shift his perspective. In an instant he began to be afraid and sink. Our burdens become too much when we shift our perspective. When we forget to believe God, and that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Refocus, shift your perspective, and remember who has called you.
Secondly, our burdens become too heavy when we do not give them too Him, lay them at His feet and do as the scripture requires, take up His burden because it is light; this too a practice in faith. Too often we pray, leave the burden at the alter but take it back with us upon getting off our knees and walk back out the church with it stealing our peace, joy, rest and in worse cases our health. Seek God first and when you need will be provided. seek God first and He will give you the desires of your heart. Seek God first and He will provide comfort and rest for your soul. Just seek God first. We marvel at the men and women found in our Bible, but what did they do really? The believed God, they recognized that He was the answer, we too must remember that He is the answer.
If you do not know Him, this Jesus, I challenge you to believe, the only thing you risk is living an abundant life.
Blessings