“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 (NIV)
What an invitation!! “Come to me…you will find rest for your souls…” Why, as Christians do we find it so hard to accept this invitation? Or…maybe we accept it, but we don’t embrace it. Max Lucado wrote, “As long as Jesus is one of many options, he is no option.” My dad, a Baptist minister, used to say, “As long as He is not Lord OF all, He is not Lord AT all.” He didn’t die on the cross for our sins, to give us redemption and salvation sometimes…when it is convenient for us…this is not a part-time job for the Lord…it is an all-time job for the Lord! But…as humans, we try to work things out ourselves; we fill our lives with other things trying to satisfy our longings and needs. But, HE is the one that can shoulder our burdens, HE is the one that can work out our troubles, HE is the true Savior of the world…why do we look to other things and people to do these things for us?
Jesus is the true Way, the true Truth and the true Life. Yet, we so often wait until the storms of life are so violently raging about us before we reach for his hand. Why do we wait until it seems like there is no other way? WHY??? AND…one of the most wonderful things about this relationship? He is very forgiving…he is waiting in the midst of the storm to take our hand, to pull us out of the depths of our misery, to pick us up and carry us…he is waiting, willing and wanting to help…why do we hold back?
Lord, you know what is in my heart. You know what is scaring me. Please, Lord, help me let go, help me to reach for your hand and let you shoulder this burden. Help me to move past the “when I am desperate stage” and get to where I can leave IT totally and completely in your hands…all the time, every minute of every day. You can take care of all my problems and I know that…intellectually…I just need to embrace that heart-fully. Lord as the members of our parish make the parish retreat this year, open their hearts to the many blessings and teachings you have for them this weekend. Especially be with my son, Andy, as he makes this retreat. Guide him, Lord. Help him to let go of the things that are bothering him and to embrace the things you have for him. Guide him in your paths…the paths in which he was raised…be a lamp unto his feet and a light unto his path. Thank you, Lord, for the miracles I know you will work in my life, in his life and the lives of the retreatants and those reading this blog. Be especially with those that have asked me to pray for them…you and I both know who they are. Thank you Lord. Amen.
Are the storms of your life tormenting you? Have they made you weary and burdened? What a wonderful invitation we have to take His yoke upon us, to lean on him…
Blessings…
Beautifully written, Mary.
Where two or three gather in His name….
thank you Stacey…for everything!
Thanks, Mary, your posts make for beautiful Lenten meditations. I pray the Lord continues to inspire your heart and bless you in your writing.
Mary333…I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to write. I started this blog as a method to get my thoughts on paper That others will read, comment and find it meaningful is an even bigger blessing. Thank you.
Amen Mary, Amen!