“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give you rest.” –Jesus
I have read
that verse a million times, especially during trials. After Woody died, I
prayed those words repeatedly, begging God to give me rest. I was weary. I was burdened. I needed the
comfort only Jesus could provide.
It is
interesting that a more literal translation from the Greek is “Come to Me, all
those laboring and being burdened.” How often do we labor
through our suffering trying anything to relieve our pain? We self-medicate
through substance abuse, relationships, shopping, work—whatever it takes to
distract us from the unbearable heartache and affliction. And Jesus says all we
need do is turn to Him and He will give us rest. It doesn’t mean He will remove
us from our circumstances, but He will refresh our spirits and give us the strength
to live another day. It doesn’t mean the pain will immediately subside, but He
will expand our lungs to take another breath when the weight of our sorrow is
crushing our rib cage. God’s mercy responds compassionately to the cries of the
needy. It is an attribute of His infinite love. So why in the world do we keep
laboring in an effort to stop the pain?
I could have
taken a million avenues to escape the torment that resulted from Woody’s tragic
death, and at times I was tempted. However, God gently reminded me of the easy
route, the one that leads to Him and rest for my weary, grieving soul. No, it did
not change my circumstances, and yes, it still hurt like hell; but I had a
peace that gave me the strength to breathe through one more day and stand when
I could not feel the ground beneath me. So today, if you are laboring in an
attempt to “heal thyself,” stop and turn toward the only one who can refresh
your soul.
