Well, first of all, happy Wednesday. Okay, so today, we read Matthew 10, 11, 12, and 13. There were tons of good little words of wisdom and a bunch of stuff that I can remember reading from years ago when I used to do this more regularly. And all of them still speak to my heart.
But, today, I am in more of a pensive, questioning mood than I am in an inspired mood, if that makes any sense. And here is what I'm talking about:
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest...For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
This is where I would normally give you the context of what this is talking about and what it meant to Jesus at the time and what it meant to the people who were there then listening to it, but it just doesn't make sense to me. It raises the question in my mind: What is He actually talking about?
The reason it doesn't make sense to me is because life is not easier as a Christian. Anyone who tells you that becoming a Christian will ease the burdens of life is...well, in my opinion, mistaken. Just like the Bible says in other places, it rains on the just and unjust alike. Whether you are Christian or not, life comes at you without relenting.
Now, I do believe that being a Christian helps you deal with life. So, the only way that I can make sense of Jesus making this statement is by concluding that, yes, being a Christian has at times helped me turn the situations that would normally be a source of distress into sources of eustress (or the kind of stress that drives you to succeed).
And, I do disagree that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. But, there was another verse, that kind of ties in with what I'm saying tonight that I think applies to me. And it says, "...because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand." This comes from Matthew 13:13.
I have long fought the fear that I am the person that this verse is talking about. I spend, even now, the majority of my prayer time asking God to give me eyes to see, ears to hear, etc. But, I think that at the end of the day (or at least, at the end of THIS day), I have fallen short. I don't hear often, if at all. I don't see often, if at all.
But, alas! We are not to lose hope (if you, too, find yourself in agreement with me here) because God is not done. He's not done with us. I know that because I woke up this morning. And so long as I continue to wake up in the morning, I know that God is not done with me. So, take pride in that and find hope in it.
I know I strayed from my normal, preferred, journal structure, but I just felt like this was the more appropriate way to communicate what was on my heart after reading tonight. So, thank you for bearing with me.
But, God - thank You for You, and thank You for grace. Father, I continue to ask that You would give me wisdom, and eyes to see, and ears to hear. I pray for strength of heart, the fire of purpose, and the courage to follow You. I also thank You for being willing to take my burdens and ease my stress and pain, even if I don't know how to give them over to You completely. Thank you. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
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