This promise was made by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who said:
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29 NKJV)
Do you feel burdened? Are you weighed down by the worries of this life? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Find your rest in Jesus – He promises it to you, if you will just give your worries to Him!
There can be a big difference between work and exercise – in the same way that ‘resting’ in your bed is not the same as ‘rest for your soul’. In my case, the work I do at my place of employment has very little physical exertion most days, but a lot of mental strain – so my ‘labor’ is not of the physical kind… yet it still wearies, does it not?
So for me, the treadmill is quite often a place of rest. I can start moving my body, open my bible, turn off all the ‘work think’, and find peace in the Promises that never fail. Just as Psalm 34 verse 8 says:
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Let your mind find refuge – go to that special place of rest that only Jesus gives – hand Him your worries, and instead focus on remembering your blessings. Who among us has not received far more than they deserve already? Every breath is undeserved, yet He gives us so much more!
The worries and trials that this world send our way can feel like more than we can bear, and indeed sometimes perhaps they are. But in Him there is nothing that cannot be overcome, and this is why He can promise us that a) we will never get more than we can handle, and b) He will help us find our rest if we start at the foot of the cross.
Where is your resting place? Find Him, and then you will find it!