No Longer Weary

“Come to me, all 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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Who among us is not weary in these days?

It seems that no matter who is asked the question, How are you? The answer is the same: Tired.

I am tired. This is not the kind of tired that a nap will fix or sleeping in a few extra minutes.

This is the worn-out and weary kind of tired. We are weary. The world wears us down over time. But we do not have to continue to drag that heaviness with us.

Sometimes, we are laden (which simply means to carry a heavy load) with present circumstances: illness, lack of funds, loneliness, loneliness, or the stresses of life. Other times, our heavy load is from things past: guilt of past choices, baggage from past relationships, or residual pain from childhood trauma.

Whether past memories or present circumstances, being heavy-laden makes us tired and weary.

It feels like we’ve been dragging a suitcase filled with bricks and are worn out. But we can rise from the ashes and step out of the ruins of our past baggage. We can come to God, the Healer of our souls, and give Him the suitcase. He wants to dispose of it!

He says, “Come here, child. Why are you still dragging that suitcase? Those are not your bricks, and that is not your suitcase. It’s too heavy for you, child. It’s wearing you out.”

And He is holding out His hand to take it, but you must be willing to hand it over. He has a trade for you: the bricks for peace—the suitcase for rest.

Let the past go, trust Him in the present, and hope in Him for a future.