“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28, NIV). Jesus encourages you by promising to give you rest for your soul when you come to him, in other words, when you place your dependence and hopes on him. He is restful because you can “cast all your cares” on him (1 Pet. 5:7); you don’t have to do your tasks with anxiety in your soul.
Whether it is a relationship, your occupation, your health, or a spiritual struggle in your heart it is usually your dependence on your own strength or your fears about the future that make you “weary and burdened”. Instead, you can come to Jesus, keep placing your burdens and dependence on him, and trust in his future for you. Jesus is king of the world and has all the power, and though he will not keep you from suffering, when your focus is on him he can give you rest for your soul.
What is causing you anxiety now? What is depriving your soul of rest? Can you visualize handing your cares and anxieties over to Jesus? Will you believe that he will give you rest for your soul? Will you believe that he will make something good out of the challenges and suffering that will come to you in the future?
