Jesus wants us to rest

Drawing near to Christmas, it is easy to find ourselves distracted by so many things and caught up in a host of activities. Our to do list gets longer and the days become more frantic as we try to squeeze in everything we want to do before the big day. At a most spiritual time of the year, we often do not allow ourselves to be still and rest. And when we’re not doing something, we’re thinking about it. But Jesus himself wants us to rest and he offers himself up to us so that we can have the rest he promises. Do we often neglect to keep the fourth commandment? Sometimes our Sunday, the day of rest, is jam packed full of all the things we weren’t able to do during the week. Especially in this time of multi-tasking and the emphasis on achievement and competition, the time to rest is left out of the equation of our day to day lives. Even the sleep we allow ourselves to do at night is often disturbed and disjointed because we find it difficult to just “switch off” when our heads hit the pillow. Just as our bodies need physical sleep, so our minds and hearts need time to unwind, slow down and just “be”.

Being weary and burdened is not a healthy state to be in, neither mentally nor physically. It is also not a healthy spiritual state to be in, and that’s why Jesus says, “come to me.” Stop what you’re doing and come to me so that I can give you the rest and tranquility that you need, and that you’re missing out on. He’s not saying “that it would be a good idea”wouldn’t it be a good idea to get some rest,” he’s telling us to go to him. It’s an imperative. That’s how important rest is to a person’s journey.

Refraining from activity and just being with Jesus refreshes the soul and, personally, I find that it often brings a closeness just as deep, and sometimes even deeper than prayer. When we offer the time that we would normally spend doing stuff, and thinking and deciding and worrying, and give it to Jesus, we are giving him a gift of ourselves and in exchange he gives us his peace. How wonderful! Jesus tells us that it’s OK to unwind and just not do anything but live in the moment, with him. This is so important in living a life of fullness and completion, of closeness to Jesus our Lord.

“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