In Matthew 11 :28-30, Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 9Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 0For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
How do we find rest? Jesus said: “Come to me”.
How do we do this? God gave his people the answer in Isaiah 30 :15 – “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength”.
Repentance here means to turn around 180°. We become weary (over-worked) and burdened (worried, stressed) when we are drawn into the battles and realities of life until we are consumed, our minds and hearts are filled to overflowing and we are overwhelmed. Our hearts and minds were created to be a sanctuary, a quiet home for the Spirit of God, where we can commune with our Heavenly Father without distraction. But, like the Israelites of old, we make this place of quiet communion a marketplace. One of the last public actions Jesus did before his crucifixion was clearing his Father’s house by driving out the noise of the world (Luke 19:45 – “Then He entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. Verse 46 – “It is written” He said to them, ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers ‘”.
The first step towards finding rest is turning our back on and clearing the noise of the world out from our inner sanctuary. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength”. We need to take the decision to turn, to take the time to go apart and sit at Jesus’ feet like Mary did, no matter the demands from the situation and the expectations of those around us. It is form of fasting.
Isaiah 30 :15 – 19 – “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength,” but you would have none of it. You said, ‘No, we will flee on horses.’ Therefore, you will flee! … you will flee away until you are left like a flagstaff on a mountaintop, like a banner on a hill.” Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. How gracious He will be when you cry for help! As soon as He hears, He will answer you.”
Are you consumed by the battle, and overcome by the demands of daily life? Oh, do turn around, go apart and seek Him, search for Him until you find Him and find rest for your soul. God promised in Jeremiah 29:13 – 14 – ‘When you search for me, then you will find me, if you seek me with all your heart. And I will let myself be found by you,’ declares the Lord.”
Maybe it was for this purpose that your heavenly Father took you into this desert where you find yourself. He is jealous for your love. He wants to be the only one who lives in the sanctuary of your heart – no noise, no disturbances, no distraction, even if He must lead us into the desert or the valley of trouble, as He says through the prophet Hosea.
Hosea 2:14- 15 – “I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and I will make the valley of Achor (Trouble) a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth …”
If you are weary, burdened, or in the Valley of Trouble – turn your back on the noise and troubles and seek his face and wait on Him. You will find Him and in Him your soul will find quietness and rest. He will fight your battles. He will restore what the locusts have eaten.
Father, forgive me for filling my heart and my mind with the noise and commotion of the world. Help me to turn my back to the world and face you. Help me to be quiet and receive your rest and your blessings. Amen
Elzeth Malherbe