Lent for the Anxious
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30, NIV
“I want to be an astronaut, but I still want to be a doctor, too,” she said, her beautiful brow crinkled in consternation.
“Well, astronauts need doctors to care for them,” I suggested.
“I know. But I’m not worrying about it. I’ve put that stress on Jesus.
“Is that okay? To give Jesus my stress?”
“Yes, my sweet girl. Absolutely yes.”
With a sigh, she gazed out the window into the starry night sky, thinking deeply about this mystery.
My daughter is only ten years old, but she has understood something many adults have yet to put into practice. We can and we should “put our stress on Jesus.” He indeed commands it.
As we spin and fizzle on our stressful way, puzzling over life’s conflicts and striving to control outcomes, we are disobedient. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Hidden in this command is a question. If you are in a hurry, anxious and harried, you will miss it.
Do you believe?
Do we believe Jesus is good, able to care for our concerns, able to lead us in a right way? If we do, we can come like a child and “put our stress on him.” We can sigh with relief knowing He can handle it, and it is no sin to give our burdens to him. It is obedience, and with it comes rich reward: “And I will give you rest.”
Rest is the reward of obedience, of belief.
Put your stress on Jesus this Lenten season, dear one, and find rest for your tired mind and soul. Trust him with your future, for he will always lead you in a right way (Psalm 107:7).
Lord, I bring my stress to you today. Teach me and give me rest in my soul. Amen.
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