Invitation to Rest

“I’m not an early bird or a night owl. I’m some form of permanently exhausted pigeon.” The cheeky phrase caught my eye on a little placard in a quaint gift shop and I couldn’t resist. The sign now hangs in a little corner of our house as a witty acknowledgement that life is full, but it also serves as an invitation to something better. 

I love the life God has given me, but it can be crazy. I have lofty ideals about how I will prioritize time with God, successfully manage the schedules of four teenagers, faithfully serve on staff at church, carve out adequate time to write, and invest in my relationship with my husband. And, everyone in my house needs healthy meals. And, my doctor says I should get at least 30 minutes of daily exercise. And, and, and.

We’ve made chore charts and schedules, but their promise to make life manageable often remains unfulfilled. My family’s shared electronic family calendar looks more like a Jackson Pollock painting than an efficient and effective organizational system. A single forgotten event distorts the whole picture. Boundaries limiting the days I am in the office collapse with little resistance when emergencies or conflicts arise. 

So, I’ve embraced the reality that these are exhausting days. But, into the busyness Jesus extends an invitation: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). That’s me! Jesus didn’t come to offer rest to those who had it all together, but the weary and burdened—even those weary from doing good.

Jesus’ invitation came with an offer, “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” (Matthew 11:29). A yoke is a long wooden beam used to link two animals together; it allows two animals to share the burden of labor. When I choose to take Jesus up on His offer, I am choosing to unlatch myself from my own yoke and take on His yoke. Choosing to share a yoke with Jesus allows Him to become my companion and guide. 

For Jesus to be my companion, it is important to stay connected to Him. When life is busy, it can be so easy to unintentionally drift away from Jesus. It’s often when I notice myself becoming easily frustrated or angry that tips me off that I’ve unlatched myself from Jesus’ yoke. However, when the fruit of His Spirit is present in my life: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, I’m reassured that I am staying connected to Him (Galatians 5:22, 23).

Jesus is a gentle and kind teacher. When Jesus was overwhelmed by crowds who needed help, He “went up on a mountainside by himself to pray” (Matthew 14:23). When He got difficult news about the death of His friend and relative, Jesus “withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place” (Matthew 14:13). His example helps me pray through my day, asking for His help to handle the relentless requests and challenges. His Spirit helps me recognize what opportunities are from Him and what are perhaps unnecessary burdens. Jesus’ example of rest gives me the freedom to schedule times of rest even when my calendar seems to scream it’s not possible. And when things I didn’t schedule interrupt my plans, especially when they involve loss or suffering, Jesus shows me that it’s good to stop and receive comfort.

Jesus’ invitation brings me back to my little sign. I’m reminded that being an exhausted pigeon is not where God wants me to stay. Instead, Isaiah 40:28–31 tells me God’s vision for me during the craziness of life:

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

As I daily take on Jesus’ yoke and put my hope in Him, I find that some days I successfully walk with Jesus through all the busyness, other days I am able to run without growing weary, and some days even soar. Not in my own strength but because of Jesus, a gentle companion and teacher.

If you want to take Jesus up on His invitation, consider a few questions: What is one area of your life where you are feeling burdened or weighed down? What might it look like to take on Jesus’ yoke? What is one change that might be necessary?

–Written by Lisa M. Samra. Used by permission from the author.