Week 8 - Day 2 - A Relationship With Jesus
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Finding Rest in Jesus
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Devotional:
As an atheist for much of my life I laboured under the burden that I was the only one who could solve my own problems. I turned to the pursuit of money and career to bring solutions in a vein attempt that placed me on a treadmill of debt and service gods of all descriptions. My job as an airline pilot was never about money or a fancy uniform but about the boyhood dream of soaring amongst the clouds.
The trappings of my career; money, stature and a sense of manhood through my job that identified me came in handy as a camouflage net over a life filled with contradictions and a need to perform so that others would not see how totally lost I was.
In seeking relief from this relentless torment I turned to addictions that only drove me deeper into my despair and self loathing.
I didn’t feel real; I had no identity and no belief in anything substantial. In desperation I turned to Jesus at the eleventh hour.
Unworthy as I felt, for the first time in my life I was really starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Joining the dots of my life I realised that He was there all along, waiting to carry my load and walk the journey of life with him.
From that day on I have never looked back. God never wastes a hurt.
In a world filled with busyness, stress, and constant demands, finding true rest can feel like an elusive dream. We strive to meet expectations, fulfil obligations, and pursue success, only to find ourselves weary and burdened. Yet, in the midst of our exhaustion, Jesus extends a tender invitation: “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Jesus acknowledges our weariness and offers Himself as the source of genuine rest. He doesn’t promise a life free from challenges, we can’t develop a Christ like character without it, but He assures us that in Him, we can find the peace and refreshment our souls desperately need.
Reflection Questions:
- Are there areas of your life where you feel burdened or overwhelmed? How can you bring these burdens to Jesus and exchange them for His rest?
- Think back on what we have covered already in understanding who Jesus is. Jesus invites us to “learn from Him.” What can you learn from His example of gentleness and humility as you navigate your daily challenges?
- Consider the concept of taking Jesus’ yoke upon you. How does this imagery of partnership with Jesus in our burdens bring comfort and assurance?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Papa God.
Thank you for the invitation to find rest in You. Help us to release our burdens and anxieties at Your feet, trusting in Your promise to provide rest for our souls. Teach us to walk in Your gentle and humble ways, finding strength in our partnership with You. May Your presence fill us with peace and Your love sustain us through every trial. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Graham Hood
