I have heard many people say it takes more work to leave for vacation than to just staying home. I am in the midst of that right now! At work, I am preparing for two weeks at once. At home, I am finishing outdoor projects, working on laundry, and trying to leave the house neat. Though cats do not need too much care, they do need to eat, so arrangements have been made for their care, for mail pickup and the watering of flowers. Since we will not eat out the whole time, meals have been planned, and shopping still needs to take place. And the packing? Well, that will happen at some point. Finally, at the end of the week, we will be on the road.

Honestly, I would rather put in the extra work for time away. I am not sure about you, but life can get so busy. Rather than taking time to rest, I am always doing something. There are always tasks that need completed. However, completing tasks are not the only things that cause weariness. We carry burdens in our hearts. Difficulties in life cause us to struggle. You cannot always get away from the things that bring you down.

Not only do I physically long for some rest, but my mind and my heart could use it too. Heading to the beach invites the rest my soul longs for. Whether your time away includes a beach or the mountaintops, or even just a quiet place near home, it is good to take time to rest. This time away is good, however, Jesus offers a better kind of rest.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

There are several instructions Jesus gives in this passage. First He invites you to come. Come to Him. Give your burdens to Him. As you cast your burdens and cares upon Him, He takes the load. In putting your burdens on His shoulders, your load becomes lighter, enabling you to rest.

Next, He instructs you to take His “yoke” on you. In older times, the yoke was a wooden bar harnessed to the necks of a pair of oxen. This bar enabled the oxen to work together under the submission of the farmer. He was able to guide them in doing the work He had for them. Often when training a younger ox, the farmer would hook the younger with an older, trained ox. The older would teach the younger through his experience, helping to mature and train the younger ox. This leads to the third instruction, which is to learn from Jesus. The younger ox learned from the older.

As you come, submit to His ways, and learn from Him, God provides rest. Maybe your circumstances will not change, but the way you carry them will. God will take your burdens and cares upon Himself. Undergirded by His strength and following His direction, your burdens will be lightened. You can rest, knowing you are being guiding by the One who knows the work that needs to take place. God will use the difficulties you are facing to train you and mature you, so you are ready for the job He has for you.

Are you carrying burdens too heavy to bear? Are you trying to manage the difficulties of life alone? God knows you are weary. He promises rest. Go to Him. Submit to His plan and learn His thoughts and His ways. The more you know Him, the more you will be willing to do His Will. As you follow His Will and leave the difficulties with Jesus, you will find rest.

My plan for this coming week is too rest – not only physical rest but consciously placing my burdens on the shoulders of Jesus. Will you go to Him too for rest?