Louise Gevers

“Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit: and you will find rest.” Matthew 11:28-29

There comes a time in life when we reach the end of our own strength and wisdom and are faced with our human frailty, regardless of who we are. Depleted, poor and alone, lacking guidance, lacking hope, we are burdened by so many things. People can sometimes get rid of baggage in their homes but can never free themselves from the baggage they carry. Despair clouds vision; we actually need to look beyond ourselves to be saved from ourselves.

Only one person is actually on our side that has the power to do that. Jesus makes a compassionate offer to all the heavy laden in today’s verse.

Jesus invites us to go to Him for rest when we are tired; He offers us relief as we pour out our hearts to Him about our sadness, loneliness and pain as we walk with Him each day and He transforms our heavy load. He invites us to abandon our own pride and faulty knowledge and to experience His gentleness and humility. He teaches us from His Word to approach the difficulties of life His way, and to become humble and teachable like He was on earth. His wisdom and strength become ours as we live in Him. Do we doubt that He is on our side?

Jesus knows the human condition. He has experienced the burdens we carry that exhaust us and try our strength. Carrying a heavy load, physically, can be satisfying, even if our muscles ache, because we see the benefits of our labour. The burdens of the heart, the mind and the spirit are different. These internal loads begin to drain us of our hope, faith and endurance, and stand in the way of victory and growth. Before we ask Jesus for help, this is where we are. Believing His words and walking step by step with Him through life re-vitalises our hope.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”Matthew 10:29-31 God knows how He formed you in your mother’s womb, and knows how many hairs you have on your head today. God is always with you in Jesus; loving, faithful, compassionate, ever-present, and eternal. Know that He is always there for you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the loving, compassionate invitation that You extend to me to walk with You, learn from You, and experience the true freedom that You give to enjoy abundant life, as I surrender my burdens and walk with You. Amen.