“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

– Matthew 11: 28-30

In context of this Scripture, Jesus is speaking to a small group of people who have become weary with the expectations of the religious leaders of their city. In that time, religion and politics went hand-in-hand, which caused tension in the synagogue and temple. 

In honesty, May is a time of the year that can be exhausting and stressful. It is easy to put our faith on the shelf as our to-do lists lengthen causing our priorities to get out of whack. 

This Scripture is encouraging for those who are tired. It is relatable to those who are burdened with stress and anxiety. It is comforting for those who are seeking refuge and peace.

Jesus explains in this Scripture that He is our rest; He is our help in times of trouble; He is our refuge. In a month that is full of unexpected turns and busy schedules, this Scripture is the perfect reminder to seek refuge in the Lord who will provide rest for our souls. 

This week’s praise is the peace that we can find in taking refuge in the Lord when we are overwhelmed and tired. 

Jesus wants us to come to Him when we are exhausted and stressed out. He is a loving God and He wants us to find shelter in Him. When no material thing, no person, no addiction will satisfy us, Jesus encourages us that He is rest for our souls. 

At the end of this Scripture, He explains that His “yoke is easy and [His] burden is light.” When our lives seem to overwhelm us and our to-do lists bog us down, Jesus encourages that His expectations for us are easy and His work for us is light. 

In complete transparency, this week’s praise and prayers was more difficult to write than others. I started writing this story feeling stressed out and exhausted, and I wanted to quit and pick it up next week. I persevered and relied on the Lord’s strength to help me. Even when things are seeming too great to bear, I encourage you to not give up. Call on the Lord and seek refuge in His comforting promises. 

Dear Jesus, thank You for Your promise to be a rest for the weary and a refuge for the tired. Thank you for providing hope for us even when life seems to overwhelm us. Please help us to persevere through our stress and busy schedules and not rely on our own strength, but Yours.