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
Work. We all do it! Work is defined by more than what we do for wages. Work is also labour and efforts to achieve a desired result. From the daily tasks such as unloading our dishwasher to the longer term projects such as writing a novel, all is work really. Even in sleeping, we are working toward a rested body and mind.
Our labours while living on earth do not end. We are also to honour God in all that we do. The tension, though, between the pull of the world and being true to God in our work, including our writing, can weigh us down. Responsibilities to our families, our wage work, our volunteer work, our publisher, and others, can challenge us to the point of exhaustion.
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us to take His “yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Taking His yoke means to be attached to Jesus in all our labours. When I imagine this, I see Jesus upfront, where the load is the heaviest. How incredible is that! Jesus helping ME! Suddenly my heavy responsibilities, my tasks, and my worries are lighter. I continue my labours with a lightened heart and refreshed soul even though the work has not changed. It’s my relationship with Jesus that changes my weariness to lightness.
“A relationship with God changes meaningless, wearisome toil into spiritual production and purpose.” Life Application Bible
So how can I labour for God and rest in Him?
1. Prayerfully consider every day how God wants me to serve Him and spread His abundance.
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25
2. Work to show His abundant, beautiful creations in nature that evoke calm, peace, and a sense of gratitude.
You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:11
3. Ask God to reveal where I need to pay attention to better work for His purpose.
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3
4. Take to heart that God is my strength.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
How has Jesus changed your weariness to lightness? Have you taken Jesus’ yoke upon you?
When I am weary and tired, I find comfort in going to the Father. :-) He renews me and gives me strength to move forward.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Melissa! He moves us forward.
DeleteIt's better to be busy than to look busy. Finishing a project is its own reward. I look forward to waking up 89 days from now and knowing I need not work anymore. Having to work robs the joy from the labour. But when we work for something we want, what a great feeling the payment gives. I remember holding my first paycheque and knowing I earned it. It wasn't a gift or something somebody had to pay me.
ReplyDeleteThere is the reward of joy our work can also bring us. Thanks for thought observation too, Bruce!
DeleteI love these words of yours, dear Lynn: It’s my relationship with Jesus that changes my weariness to lightness.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how much harder life would be if I had to carry it all on my own.
God is good to help us complete our work and tap into His rest.
Blessings - Wendy Mac 🕊️
Amen!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this encouragement, Lynn. We all need to rely on Father God and rest in Him... in this busy life it is easier said than done.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your points in changing weariness to lightness, Lynn. Point 3 caught my attention--asking God to show me how I can work better for His purposes. Doing so will bring more rest in my work.
ReplyDelete"How incredible is that! Jesus helping ME!" Good thought, Lynn.
ReplyDelete