Caldwell, this has been a tough year. A tiring year. A demanding year.
Actually, the past 2+ years have been tough and tiring and demanding.
Who am I kidding? All of human history has been tough, tiring, and demanding.
What are you going to do about that, Caldwell?
What are we going to do about that?
What am I going to do about that?
As some of you know, I took last Sunday off from work, from church, from in-person worship. I stayed home with my husband. We sipped mugs of hot coffee. We went for a walk. We watched a movie together. We ate good food. We told stories. We laughed. We rested.
I rested.
I took a load off.
Off my back and my mind.
Off my soul and my spirit.
When was the last time you took a load off? When was the last time you turned off your phone and tablet and computer and intentionally spent time alone with God? Talked to God in prayer. Gone on a walk or a drive or a bike ride or a journey in your wheelchair. Wandered down a green way or through a labyrinth. Spent time on a yoga mat or just lying on the floor or in your bed looking up at the ceiling. Or on a park bench staring at trees and squirrels and people watching. No agenda. No step counting. No photos. No social media posts. Just you and God. Just you.
You don’t have to drive four hours to the beach or two hours up into the mountains. You can rest, relax, be rejuvenated much closer to home.
Last weekend, I spent some time pondering the last three verses in Matthew 11. Here’s what they say – Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, 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 received those words as an invitation from Jesus spoken directly to me – Gail, lay down your heavy burdens. No more work. You’ve done enough. Accept the free gift of rest that I have for you. You don’t have to work for this rest. You can simply receive it. You don’t have to prove yourself worthy of this rest. Take a load off.
I invite you to think a little more about the part that says, “You will find rest for your souls.” If we are open to receive the truth of this passage, Caldwell, we can find rest for our souls in Jesus. What do you imagine that would feel like – to have a rested soul?
Here’s some of what I imagine –> All the work and hustle and worry and anxiety and self-doubt and trying to satisfy people who will never be satisfied – even though oftentimes we are the ones who are never satisfied with ourselves – we finally lay all of that down. Then we receive God’s gift of deep and abundant rest. How rested would our bodies, minds, spirits, souls, and our whole selves be without the relentless work we do to keep from resting???
Last weekend, I leaned into that rest for a couple of days. It was heaven-sent healing. It was restorative. It was soul-soothing. And it was not nearly long enough!
Promise me that you will take a load off sometime this week. Promise yourself that you will set aside time to lay your heavy burdens down and accept the gift of rest Jesus offers you.
I pray that grace, peace, and rest will be yours, Caldwell, in abundance.
Your sister in Christ, Gail
PS. Thank you, Diane Mowrey, for leading worship in my absence.