Read: Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (v. 28)
My life is so busy! I just don’t have enough time!” How often have you found yourself saying this? Life’s demands are never-ending, and we’re constantly in a hurry, rushing from one thing to the next. The result is we’re left feeling overwhelmed, distracted, and utterly exhausted.
The Chinese pictograph for “busyness” is a combination of two characters: heart and death. This is stunningly incisive. The heart is the place where the busy life exacts its deadliest toll. Busyness kills the heart, withers the soul, and makes us less human. But I have good news for you: God has a different rhythm in mind. A more liberating, life-giving rhythm! Jesus invites us to come to him and find rest. He invites us to live all of life, even the busy and stressful moments, out of this place of rest. As the saying goes, we need to slow down if we want to catch up with God.
So hear Jesus’s invitation for you today: “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” (Matt. 11:28-30 MSG).
As you pray, ask God to help you rest your heart in Jesus and draw you into the unforced rhythms of grace today.
About the Author
Brian Keepers has been an ordained pastor in the Reformed Church in America for 23 years. He is currently serving as the lead pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City, Iowa. Brian is married to Tammy, and they have two daughters and a granddaughter.
