A Wonderful Invitation

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” Matthew 11:28 (NLT) My husband and I enjoy hiking in northern Idaho, which has many trails to choose from in beautiful mountainous parks. A lot of times, especially if I am walking up an incline carrying a backpack, it becomes tiring, and I need to rest. When I do rest, then I am able to finish walking up the trail and finish the hike with enjoyment. Rest helps us to be strengthened to keep going. A lot of times in life, it can feel like we are juggling everything to make things work out perfectly, or just to make things work at all. We tend to take everything on ourselves. I find myself in that place a lot. Then I remember the sweet welcoming words that Jesus spoke, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Do you have heavy burdens? Are you trying to carry more than you can handle? Friend, have a rest. Give those anxious thoughts and worries to God. What Jesus said in this Scripture verse is not a suggestion, but a wonderful invitation to find that perfect peace found only in Him. I remember attending a Christian workers’ conference where I heard someone say that one of the most spiritual things to do was to rest. I have come to realize that there is truth to that. Resting can also be literal resting — taking a break, taking a nap, but most importantly, reading God’s Word and seeking Him in that time. In order to be strengthened to keep on going, rest a little. Pull up a stump and sit in the warmth of God’s love. — Myrna Kopf   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org