A Third Component to Finding Real Peace

In review of Matthew 11:28 it says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”

Bottom Line:

Jesus is the one who can provide rest from the heavy burdens we carry.

What this means to me:

Jesus tells me that If I tire from carrying heavy burdens that I can come to him and he will give me true rest.

Today’s verse comes from the end of Matthew chapter 11. It is part of Jesus’ prayer of thanksgiving. Jesus prays, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.” He then explains that “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” At this point, Jesus offers us something we cannot get from anywhere else, he says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Today’s passage tells me that I can experience a peace that passes all understanding.  Over the past few days, I’ve been looking at steps to finding real peace.

I learned that first, I need to experience a moment of clarity. Secondly, I must express an attitude of humility. And today I explore the need to expect Jesus to help me.  God will do what I expect him to do in my life. This is a faith factor.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He came to Earth to bring peace. He summarizes how he brings peace in a single sentence: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV). This is the type of statement that If I truly embrace it, can cause my stress level to drop.

In this statement, Jesus promises rest that’s beyond anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s much deeper than physical rest. It’s soul rest. My problem isn’t overworked muscles. It’s an overworked mind and an overworked spirit. I need rest from anxiety, tension, guilt, and fear.

The path to this kind of peace isn’t to disappear somewhere on vacation. Even though I might forget about my troubles for a while, there are still there with me and won’t be gone when I return (they may even be worse)

Jesus tells me that I will find peace and rest for my weary soul, when I come to Him. It’s an act of faith on my part that shows Jesus that I expect his help. This is God’s way to the peace that will never end.

Seems like a simple thing, but I believe my own selfish pride, arrogance, guilt and feeling of self punishment get in the way of letting God give me the “peace that passes all understanding.”  Lately I have been wrestling with my career and work life/environment. Today I will explore more of why I just don’t give it to Jesus and yoke up with him on these concerns.