Are you stressed? Does your life seem to be in constant conflict? Do you sometimes feel as if there is a burden on your back—a heaviness in your soul—that continually weighs you down?
If you are struggling to cope with a life that is confusing and out of control, there is hope. If you are searching for rest for your soul, there is good news. Jesus is offering a personal invitation to you to find rest in him. Whether it be evil coming at you or evil from within you, Jesus has encouraging words for you. He says,
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
MATTHEW 11:28-30
WHY IS REST SO DIFFICULT TO FIND?
The work of this world always seems more important than God’s invitation in Matthew 11:28. Even though you desire to give your heart and mind a break, it is nearly impossible to turn away from the demands set in place by the world you live in.
People search for comfort and rest from various things such as drugs, unhealthy relationships, self-help books, and even work or education. But these are often just an escape from reality or worse, they become greater burdens to carry creating empty promises of relief from the stress of the real world. The rest offered by Jesus Christ is one that lasts for eternity.
WHERE CAN I FIND REST?
God’s Word (the Bible) says that only through a relationship with Jesus Christ can you find true rest. Jesus is calling you to come to him and he will give your soul rest. This means that you must turn from relying on yourself—your attempts to find peace and measure up in this world by your own power—and trust solely in Jesus.
HOW CAN JESUS GIVE ME REST?
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart.” He welcomes you to tell him your worries and fears. He cares about your life, your failures, and your broken heart. He desires you to know him, to believe that he has already paid the price for your sin, your burdens, and your guilt. He will give you rest through forgiveness for every sin you have ever done or ever will do. He promises eternal life with him upon a renewed earth, free from evil and suffering, when he returns.
WHAT MUST I DO?
To receive this wonderful peace and rest that Jesus offers, you must first understand the following six important biblical truths:
- All people are sinful. Sin comes in the form of the bad things that we say, think, and do. Sins are even good things done with selfish motivations. Sin is the reason we cannot find rest. All sins are done against God, who is perfect and good.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
- Sin is so serious to God that death is the necessary and just punishment.
“For the wages (payment) of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23)
- You cannot do anything good enough to save yourself.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- Although you deserve the punishment of death for your sins, Jesus Christ (who never sinned) died for you. He was your substitute. He took your punishment upon himself when he died on the cross, but he rose from death to give you hope.
“Christ died for our sins . . . he was buried . . . he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
- You must trust, not in anything good you have done or will do, but only in what Jesus Christ has already done for you.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
- You cannot earn eternal life; it is a gift that you either accept or reject. When you receive God’s gift, you become his child, and you are adopted into his family.
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
We want you to know that there is more to this life than what you can see. We are living through an age of hopelessness and despair. But THERE IS HOPE for you.
If you would like to know more about Jesus Christ, or if you have questions about anything you have read please contact us. We would love to learn more about you and the trials you are going through. We can provide someone nearby to meet with you and help you as you seek God’s rest.