Jesus spoke to the crowd saying:“To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, 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 11:16,19-25-30
Are there any more comforting words than these?
How often when we are weary do we want someone to shoulder our burdens?
How comforting to know that heavy burdens are not what God desires for us.
That isn't to say, we won't have them. And it isn't to say that sometimes we might wonder if our burdens will ever go away.
The bad news is that as long as we are human being, burdens are going to keep popping up.
Weariness will continue to stalk us.
But through it all, we aren't alone.
As I was pondering what to say in this devotion, I paused to read a meme I saw on Facebook. It was one that corrected that old theologically unhelpful statement: God helps those who help themselves. (BTW - that is nowhere in scripture!)
Instead, what it said this:
God will help you through the unthinkable. You are never meant to handle it alone.
God remains with us during those wearisome, burdensome times. And sends others to help us carry those burdens as well.
We are not alone. God desires rest for us and peace for us.
And hope for us.
Help me to share my burdens with you and with those who want to walk beside me. Amen