Church Pews: They’ve Got Storiesनमूना

Church Pew: God Is Always Saving Room For You

One of my most cherished memories of my childhood is sitting on an old wooden church pew on Sunday mornings, my family lined up like ducks in a row. Specifically, I remember glancing up at my mom during worship as she would place her hands on the pew in front of her, wondering to myself how long it would be before I was finally tall enough to do the same.

As a little girl, I was not yet aware of the range of joy, hope, anger, grief, gratitude, brokenness, fear, and beauty the pew I was sitting upon had most likely witnessed. I was not yet aware of the range of emotions I myself would come to bring to God, whether it be on a pew or plastic fold up chair at my church, praying in the driver’s seat on my way home from work, or sitting on the floor of my living room.

I was not yet aware of how faithful God is in saving room on His pew for His children - not just when we’re at our most joyful and hopeful, but even when we’re at our most broken and weak.

Matthew 11:28-30 speaks directly to those who are weary and burdened, inviting them to find rest in the Father: “‘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.’”

For the struggling alcoholic, the person burdened by the shame of their mistakes, the couple still praying for a baby, the broken-hearted still grieving a devastating loss, the individual battling the dark cloud of depression or the anxiety of OCD, there is rest for your soul.

For you and the burden you’re weary and run down from trying to carry around, God is inviting you to receive His rest for your soul. I challenge you to ask yourself these questions today: What burden am I carrying? And am I willing and ready to lay it down at the feet of Jesus and receive His rest?

In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, the Apostle Paul acknowledges his own weakness, as he is reminded of the all encompassing strength found in God's grace: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I find great comfort in knowing that my God is strong enough for my weaknesses. I hope you find comfort in knowing that He is strong enough for every single one of your weaknesses, too. There is rest for your soul in the gentle and humble heart of the Father. No matter where your “pew” is today, God is holding that space to meet you in every bit of your weakness and weariness.

Pray this prayer with me: God, thank You for loving me in every bit of my imperfection and weakness. I pray You continue to give me the strength to lay my burdens and weariness at Your feet. Today I am choosing to put my trust in You. Amen.