Rest from a hard life

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Life is hard. When you are young, other kids pick on you. Homework can be confusing, and it is disappointing to be picked last when teams are chosen. Teenage life is filled with stress. The person you have a crush on doesn’t notice you. There is pressure to experiment with drugs or finish a date with sex.

It doesn’t get any easier when you reach adulthood. It’s hard to find a good paying job where you fit in and enjoy the work. Dating is a challenge—so many people are afraid of commitment, or have children from a previous relationship. Marriage is a risky proposition, because a lot of partners would rather file for divorce than work at making the relationship better. Buying a home can bury you so deeply in debt that nothing gets saved for retirement. Many parents struggle with guilt for being too busy to give their children their undivided attention.

Old age can also be challenging. There is a sense of loss that comes when your family moves away, and long time friends start dying one after another. It is hard to stay positive when you suffer from chronic health problems but can’t afford treatment because you live on a fixed income. Many feel as if all is lost when the only place they can live is in a nursing home. From youth to old age, life is hard.

Where do you find comfort when you lay awake at 2:00 a.m., worrying about what the coming day might bring, or soaking your pillow with tears because of a hurt that just won’t go away? Jesus says, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. We carry a burden of guilt for breaking promises and disappointing others; Jesus gives us rest by forgiving us. We are weighed down with worries about the future; Jesus gives us rest by assuring us that everything is in His hands, and He will provide a silver lining in every dark cloud. Our hearts are heavy with grief over those we’ve loved and lost; Jesus gives us rest by giving us hope—hope that broken relationships can be mended by love, hope that when death finally claims us, we will be welcomed into a heavenly reunion with many people we long to see once more. Life is hard, but Jesus invites you to come to Him for rest. His arms are open; He wants to embrace you and comfort you. Don’t turn away from the relief He offers you.