Weekly Musing - Dawn

A Dawn Musing:

Sitting with My Friend, Jesus.

There is a lot going on in our world and probably, if you are like me, in your life also. A friends’ father and father-in-law passed away within a month of each other. She has a lot on her plate. Another friend’s daughter just eloped and she is hurt. Another friend’s father has been spending time in the hospital and she is exhausted. Another friend’s family member caused her grief and pain with decisions made. Other friends have had someone close to them die. My cousin 3 ½ years older has found out she has bone cancer and the prognosis isn’t good. Another cousin just a year younger just found out he has colon cancer and surgery is soon. Not hearing from loved ones in a couple of years and not understanding why. Shoulder pain and limitations in movement. And more. I’m sure you could fill in your own things.

These things in and of themselves wouldn’t be difficult to handle, however, when they come and keep coming, it becomes overwhelming. What do we do? My first inclination is to run away, literally. Go on a trip somewhere away from it all, which is a good idea sometimes, but not if I am avoiding. And then, I want to try to fix it. I want to fix it for my friends, and I want to figure out how I can stop the pain and overwhelm. Sometimes carrying the weight is too much.

But lately my friend, Jesus, is teaching me to sit in the uncomfortable emotions, the pain, overwhelm, uncertainty and unknown. Not to run away or avoid it. He is there encouraging me to come to Him and let Him help me sort it all out. He can handle it.

I’m reminded of the verses in Matthew 11:28-30 which say, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest (373). Take (142) my yoke upon you, and learn (3129) from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart (2588) and you will find rest (372) for your souls (5590). For my yoke is easy (5543) and my burden (5413) is light.”

Earlier in my walk, I didn’t like this verse because it didn’t seem to work for me. I didn’t feel rest. And I argued about the yoke being easy. But, after studying the words in their true meaning, I have come to understand what Jesus is saying. Let’s look at the words in their true meaning.

Rest (373) – refresh, relax

Take (142) – a primary verb, to lift, to take up or away, to take up and bear

Learn (3129) – ask, learn, study, be taught, from others or from study and observation

Heart (2588) – the heart, the thoughts or feelings, the seat and center of circulation, and

therefore of human life

Rest (372) – quiet, remain, cease from the law

Souls (5590) – breath, spirit, person, self

Easy (5543) – kind, good, to furnish what is needed, profitable, fit, good for any use, useful

Burden (5413) - load

Here is the Aramaic meaning of these verses –

“Come to me, all of you who labor and are forced to bear burdens, and I shall give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am peaceful and meek in my heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is pleasant and my burden is light.”

Invites those burdened to find rest through Jesus’s gentle, easy yoke. It portrays Jesus as a restful shepherd who absorbs the weight of burdens.

Rest refers to calming a storm, relaxing and taking peaceful repose.

Meek implies a heart totally consumed with love and care for the person.

Yoke in this context, it implies a customized, easy, or “well-fitting” guidance.

Jesus is our rest! He is our refreshment! We can relax in Him!

When I come to Him and bring Him all the things that I don’t like, want to fix and the pain and overwhelm, then He helps me. When I let go of wanting to fix it myself, then He will and can help.

Even when I’m stubborn, He is still working on my behalf. But I might not see it as I’m too busy trying to fix it myself.

When I fix my eyes on Him and let Him have it all, then I find I can breathe easier and experience release from the heavy burdens. Then I can see that His yoke is easy because He furnishes what is needed and His burden/load is light.

We were never created to carry all the weight. We are referred to as sheep and sheep cannot carry packs on their backs. They will fall over with their legs in the air.

Jesus comes to help us unload the pack and carry it for us. What heavy burdens are you carrying that need to be released?

“Come to me”, He says, “and I will give you rest.” Let’s sit with our friend, Jesus.