July 17 | Matthew 11:28-30

by David Thompson

You know, lately I have been becoming more and more aware of the pain people are feeling. This pain might be from a death in the family, a loss of a job or some physical or mental health problem. It would seem that life is full of these burdens.

For me the toughest burden that I can remember is when my parents decided to divorce. It wasn't a nice divorce, but one filled with turmoil, fear and confusion. I was fifteen years old at the time, and my mom asked my little brother and me to be on her side and to protect her from a violent dad. What a thing to put on a fifteen-year-old and thirteen-year-old. Of course my brother and I agreed, but what happened over the next year scarred me for a long time. We had to go on visitation with my dad, my mother began dating other men, and all this was confusing to me. When it came to the divorce, I was put on the stand and had to relive seeing my dad hit my mother. I felt guilty to do this in front of a courtroom full of people, but especially in front of my dad. The events of that year haunted me for many years to come.

As I grew older, I became a Christian and began reading my Bible. I came across today's passage and knew that it was "just" for me. Matthew 11:28 reads, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." I realized that I had real resentment against my dad mostly, but some against my mom as well. I learned that I needed to lay all of that burden on my Heavenly Father. What made it hard was that I didn't really know what a earthly father was suppose to be like, so that made it hard to understand the love and acceptance of my Heavenly Father. I had a long road of healing on both accounts, but as time passed, God showed me how to love both of my parents unconditionally and I did until the days of their deaths.

The rest of the passage reads, "Take my yolk upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yolk is easy and my burden is light."

If you are struggling with any heavy burdens or are weary from some situation or pain that seems unending, I urge you to take it up with Jesus and see, as I did, that even if the situation doesn't change, your feelings about the situation or pain can change. Again, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." That is a firm promise and God is good to his word and one that he assures to us through the Sabbath rest as well.

Dear God, thank you for your goodness and for your promises that you always keep. Look down on the readers, and on all of your children, and help all of us see that you can really help with whatever the burden or weariness are. We praise you, Lord. Amen!