Apparently, caring others burdens is something I am still working on. This is not the first time I’ve written on being burdened. As I walk this new road to health, it became clear that I have carried the burdens of others most of my life from those of my family as a young girl to my husband and kids as an adult. When I went to visualize the burdens I carry, it became a very large pile of little black marbles. One for each burden carried over the decades. Needless to say, the pile was several feet taller than me.
It was an easy decision to decide that I didn’t want to carry these marbles around anymore. I was instructed to give them to God and receive something in return. I saw a small glowing yellow marble. It was this scripture coming to life in my mind.
28 “Come to me, all you 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 easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV).
I traded that ginormous pile of burden for a yoke that is easy and light. The Message version of the scripture brings more life to what Jesus is offering. Learning to walk and rest with Him rather than strive to control is a gift I want to fully embrace. I’m not there, yet. I am getting closer.
28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG).
I’ll be reading these scriptures regularly as I continue to give my burdens to Christ and learn to walk and rest in Him. I am continuing to learn the unforced rhythms of grace and apply them to myself as readily as I do to others.
Are you tired and worn out? How do you cast your cares on Him? How do you practice the unforced rhythms of grace? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.