The Good LifeEgzanp

COME AND REST

Have you ever thought about the fact that stopping to rest is actually countercultural? Especially when we consider how much our culture is obsessed with work, busyness, hustle, and drive. But think about it: pausing to rest—to really rest—is a physical representation of our giving up control of our lives. It’s saying, “God, ultimately, you are the one in control of all things, and as much as I hustle and as hard as I work, you remain sovereign over all things.”

We so often find ourselves struggling under the heavy burden of striving to earn love or approval from God or others, to be enough, or even to earn our way into heaven. Some of us work tirelessly to prove something about ourselves to others. Some of us strive for perfection to gain satisfaction or find fulfillment in our accomplishments. Whether in our jobs or school or something else, the temptation to find our worthiness in our work is real.

If you find yourself in one of these places, Jesus is inviting you to something greater! We may think we have to do or achieve something in order to earn love, grace, or favor from God, but that’s actually not what He tells us in His word. When we follow Jesus, we submit ourselves to the Master who says that He’ll teach us how to live lives that are marked by security in our identities and trust in the Father.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus addresses a crowd full of people who are tired and weary. Their whole lives, the Israelite religious leaders, the Pharisees, have made religion about following a long list of rules. All too often, many of us view our relationships with Jesus in the same light—heavy burdens to carry and unattainable striving for perfection. But Jesus offers us something very different here. The Message version of the passage paraphrases it like this: “Are you tired? Worn out?...Come to me… I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

God Himself, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, is inviting you to walk with Him as He shows you how to live a life of rest and trust in Him. Do you desire that kind of life? How might God be inviting you to be still and trust Him this week?

ASK YOURSELF:

• Am I trusting God with my life in a way that allows me to pause from work and be still with Him each week? How can I incorporate this rhythm into my life this week?
• What master am I serving right now? The master of urgency, hustle, and accomplishments? Or the Master who offers rest and restoration when we come to Him?