How to Find Rest
Have you ever experienced a hard day of work? Maybe it is a physically laborious job or one that is mentally draining, by the end of the day you are wondering how could you possible go back and do it all over again. Have you ever felt this about your religious walk? That there are so many rules and ordinances that must be followed in order to have a close relationship, or a relationship at all with the Father? Now what if I told you that it did not need to be this way?
For many individuals right now, there is a belief that they need to follow certain dietary restrictions, give up certain everyday vices during a time of year, or behave in a certain type of way in order to make themselves worthy for God. This post is not meant to get into how God feels regarding our religious works, look at Isaiah 64:6 for this answer. Neither are we talking about staying in sin, for those who are acting in sin they need to repent and turn towards the Lord. Instead, I want to address those who are physically tired in their attempt to be righteous and those who are tired in their walk with Jesus Christ.
The first group are those who follow all the religious “rules” that are placed upon them either through upbringing or through the church they attend. It can be almost stifling trying to keep up and succeed in these rules in order to be seen as righteous to those around. The second group are those who are born again believers in Jesus Christ who are struggling to make Jesus fit within their own wishes for their life. These are the individuals who are trying to direct God in the direction they want their life to go instead of allowing God to lead them where He wants them to go.
Unsurprisingly, the answer to both groups weariness is the same. “28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 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. 30 For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. Here we find Jesus calling to all who are weary and burdened down with life and the religious rules placed upon them. It is tiring trying to succeed in these rules because all they do is point out how drastically we fail to measure up to what God wants us to be. This is why we need Jesus Christ, only by giving it all to Him can we find rest. When we remove the yoke of the world from our shoulders and place on the yoke of Jesus Christ, we begin to learn from Him and see that to follow Jesus Christ is not about rules but a real relationship with the God who cares for us!
For those who have already experienced the rest of Jesus Christ but find themselves struggling to follow. I ask these born again believers if they are truly allowing God to lead their lives. Have they exchanged the yoke of the world for the yoke of God? Or are you trying to make the Almighty and Righteous God fit into ideals presented by a wicked in unholy world? If this sounds like you, then the answer is still the same. Come to Him! Allow God to lead you and you will see how quickly He provides your rest!
Seek the truth and encourage one another,
Alex