I have read in Plato and Cicero sayings that are wise and very beautiful; but I have never read in either of them: Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.

Augustine of Hippo

“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. “For My yoke [is] easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

Jimmy, and his son, Davey, were playing in the ocean down in Mexico, while his family — his wife, daughters, parents, and a cousin — were on the beach. Suddenly, a rogue riptide swept Davey out to the sea. Immediately Jimmy started to do whatever he could to help Davey get back to the shore, but he, too, was soon swept away in the tide. He knew that in a few minutes, both he and Davey would drown. He tried to scream, but his family couldn’t hear him.

Jimmy’s a strong guy–an Olympic decathlete–but he was powerless in this situation. As he was carried along by the water, he had a single, chilling thought: My wife and my daughters are going to have to have a double funeral.

Meanwhile, his cousin, who understood something about the ocean, saw what was happening. He walked out into the water where he knew there was a sandbar. He had learned that if you try to fight a riptide, you will die. So, he walked to the sandbar, stood as close as he could get to Jimmy and Davey, and then he just lifted his hand up and said, “You come to me. You come to me.” (John Ortberg, in the sermon, The Way of Wisdom)

The Lord is so good to us. He knows that we were never made to do it in our own strength. We need Him! He doesn’t chide or criticize us for being weak and heavy-laden, He simply beckons us to come to Him!

Nobody sets out to get stressed and in over their head. There was one particular season of life that almost did me in. In a matter of a month, two of my mentors had passed away. Due to Covid issues, I didn’t feel like I could even go to their funerals. Our community was being hit hard by the virus and I had just done a couple of funerals for people I really knew well. I was cycling through my own grief, mourning the loss of friends, and it never seemed to let up. Then I got sick with the virus and had a really hard time with it.

The week I went into the hospital with Covid I felt like I was caught in the undertow of life. I needed to be in the hospital physically… I wasn’t pulling in enough oxygen and the doctor wasn’t so sure I’d make it… but to be honest I needed that hospital stay both emotionally and spiritually as well.

At the time I was fried. Sitting in an isolated room with very little contact with the outside world, with only my bible and a phone, was one of the biggest blessings in my life. There alone, I was able to come to Jesus for just me. Somewhere in it all I had been trying to carry everyone else’s burdens and I was burnt out. I just needed to come to Jesus.

The nurses noted a difference in my room around mid-week. They commented on how peaceful my room was compared to all the other rooms. I had made a commitment to only read the scripture, pray, listen to worship music and check in with a few folks via my phone each day. That rhythm brought me to a greater place of dependence on God. There were families that I would have liked to have been physically present for during their struggles, but I found through my isolation, a way to pray and really trust the Lord to provide (and he did!)

I hate that it took something so drastic to get me to see how frazzled I had become and to remind me to line up behind Jesus. The promises of Jesus are true and good! His yoke is easy and the burden is light. Today I am reminded that I cannot pull the burdens of life alone, but I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Father, Your word is true and good. I pray I never find myself so frazzled that I look forward to a hospital stay. Thank you for loving me enough to bid me to come to you. Thank you that you care for me enough to put your yoke on me. Thank you for the grace you show me in everyday life. I am grateful for your kindness and patience with me. I continue to be in awe of how you use even the hardest circumstances of my life to show me more of who you are and draw me closer to you. I pray that you will be glorified in my life. In Jesus Name, Amen.