Give Me A Break
I am constantly meeting stressed people. People are stressed by the demands of work, family responsibilities, relationship breakdowns, the current economic climate, sickness, loss, and the unexpected challenges of life. Stressed people are also often exhausted people because one of the hardest things to do when stressed is switch off and rest. The irony is that studies show that rest is crucial for reducing stress and anxiety, good mental health, increased concentration and memory, a healthier immune system, improved mood, decreased blood pressure, and even a better metabolism.
We need rest, but how do we get it? Jesus made this intriguing statement…
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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).
This is an invitation to find rest. And rest, in this context, describes a personal experience of the presence, the peace, the forgiveness, and power of the living God in our lives as we meet him through Jesus.
How is that possible? Did you pick up the image of the “yoke.” It’s an agricultural word. A yoke was a wooden cross-piece shaped to fit over the shoulders of a pair of oxen or horses with a harness that fitted around their necks. The purpose of the yoke was to join two animals together in order to combine and direct their energies to the task of pulling a heavy object. A yoke not only combines resources, it also reduces the load on each animal.
When we are burdened by the pressures of life, how good would it be to have someone come alongside us and combine their energy with ours to overcome obstacles and also ease our load. That’s Jesus’ offer. And he is the best person to do it because he is the expert on how to live. As God’s representative, he teaches a lifestyle that fits us perfectly, the way God always intended for us to live in his world. We may think we know life. We may think we know how to live. But somehow, we’re able to make even the simplest and most beautiful things of life a burden - things like marriage, and parenting, and working with others. And all the time, there is an easier way.
Are we bearing the burdens of life on our own? Are we desperately striving to make something of ourselves but falling short? These words invite us to swallow our pride, to accept God’s help, and find rest in him.
Neil Percival
Young District Anglican Ministry
We need rest, but how do we get it? Jesus made this intriguing statement…
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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).
This is an invitation to find rest. And rest, in this context, describes a personal experience of the presence, the peace, the forgiveness, and power of the living God in our lives as we meet him through Jesus.
How is that possible? Did you pick up the image of the “yoke.” It’s an agricultural word. A yoke was a wooden cross-piece shaped to fit over the shoulders of a pair of oxen or horses with a harness that fitted around their necks. The purpose of the yoke was to join two animals together in order to combine and direct their energies to the task of pulling a heavy object. A yoke not only combines resources, it also reduces the load on each animal.
When we are burdened by the pressures of life, how good would it be to have someone come alongside us and combine their energy with ours to overcome obstacles and also ease our load. That’s Jesus’ offer. And he is the best person to do it because he is the expert on how to live. As God’s representative, he teaches a lifestyle that fits us perfectly, the way God always intended for us to live in his world. We may think we know life. We may think we know how to live. But somehow, we’re able to make even the simplest and most beautiful things of life a burden - things like marriage, and parenting, and working with others. And all the time, there is an easier way.
Are we bearing the burdens of life on our own? Are we desperately striving to make something of ourselves but falling short? These words invite us to swallow our pride, to accept God’s help, and find rest in him.
Neil Percival
Young District Anglican Ministry