Rest

REST

Tuesday At Ten

My eyes are heavy and as I glance at the clock it is time for a nap. The hammock sways with the wind and the warm breeze invites me to take a rest. Whether the word is nap or rest, I am all for it. I can remember in first grade having to take a nap while the second graders read. My dad is 89 and everyday by 11:30 he stretches out in his chair, listening to country western music, his ball cap positioned to keep the light out of his eyes, it is nap time, time to rest and recharge. When my sons were little I loved the time that they went down for a nap. At that time, I worked until 1:30 in the morning so if I could catch a nap I was grateful. As the boys grew older, the time to rest during the day disappeared until they were older and could be by themselves. Today one of my favorite things to do is to take a nap. On the weekend I count on my rest to recharge my battery.

 

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “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. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

As I read the commentaries, Jesus is inviting those who are weary heavy-laden with burdens. When we make poor choices, God does not let us stay in those choices, remember God is a jealous God. King David after his adulterous affair writes in Psalm 32 that he was sapped of his strength as in the heat of the day from the guilt he was feeling. God wants to forgive us He says in I John 1:9 if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. In Psalm 32:5,

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord. And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”

Beloved as one who knows, this is rest. Nicole C Mullen sings a song, Come Unto Me 

Are you looking for someone to be gentle
With your broken heart your shattered dreams
And are you searching for someone who’ll be faithful
To you no matter what life brings

Well I know the maker of the storm the sunrise
He is both the Lion and the Lamb
He is strong enough to shake all earth and heaven
Yet meek enough to take me as I am

He says come unto me
All who are weary
And I will give you rest
Bring what hurts, bring your scars
Bring the load that you carry
And I will give you rest

Are the clouds above your head oh so heavy
Bursting with showers of despair
And do you struggle under more then you can carry
Has life given more then you can bear

And would you like to trade your failures in for victories
Like piles of ashes in for piles of gold
And can you fall down like a child who is helpless
So He can pick you up and make you whole

He says come unto me
All who are weary
And I will give you rest
Bring what hurts, bring your scars
Bring the load that you carry
And I will give you

Come
All who are weary
And I will give you rest
Bring what hurts, bring your scars
Bring the load that you carry
And I will give you

Come, all who are weary
Come, all who are weary
Come, all who are weary
…

Read more: Nicole C. Mullen – Come Unto Me Lyrics | MetroLyrics

 What do you need to give to Jesus? What hurts, what scares, what load are you carrying?

Father God, Jesus paid the price for our sins, yet there are days when I do not give you my hurts or the load I am carrying. I want rest Lord. I want to come to you with open hands and an open heart so that I feel that my yoke is easy. Lord I give you my worries, my physical and emotional pain so I can rest. I claim your promise of 1 John 1:9  and I confess that I do not always trust you and I do not give you my burdens. Lord in Psalm 32:10 it says, “Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him.” Lord I trust you and I come asking for rest. In Jesus’ name Amen