Stress is like an unwelcome guest that weeds its way into the mind and heart, inflicting fear and worry to an overwhelmed host. It wakes us up in the middle of the night, causes muscles to tense, tempers to flair and jaws to clench. Headaches, backaches, stomach ulcers and even skin irritations can all be linked to stress. As ugly and uncomfortable as stress is, it’s a fact of life. I don’t know too many people who have sailed through this world stress free, and if they’re out there I want to know their secret! Seriously though, when it comes down to it there is no way to avoid stress, or stressful events, in life. They happen because we live in an imperfect and fallen world. The key, however, is not how to avoid stress, but rather how we deal with the stress.
I’m not writing this because I’ve figured it out. And I’m certainly no poster girl for stress-free living! The reason I’m writing about this is because I am currently under an immense amount of stress and I’m clinging to God as tightly as my heart and hands can grasp His. I haven’t been able to fall asleep the past several nights because even though my body is willing, my mind won’t cooperate. As soon as my head hits the pillow my brain kicks into gear leaving me weary and in much need of rest.
In moments like these I have no other choice but to meditate on God’s word, and His promises. This is what I’ve been setting my heart and mind on today, and I want to share it with you:
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
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.
When we feel the weight of the world bearing down hard on our shoulders, God encourages us to come to Him and take His yoke. Then, when we walk the path of uncertainty and stress, we walk not directionless but in the steps of the Lord. He will guide us through the stress, granting us the wisdom we need as we make decisions and choices. While life won’t stop happening, we can rest because God is leading us through it and giving us rest for our weary souls.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible says this:
Whoever will, let him come. All who thus come will receive rest as Christ's gift, and obtain peace and comfort in their hearts. But in coming to him they must take his yoke, and submit to his authority. So powerful are the assistances he gives us, so suitable the encouragements, and so strong the consolations to be found in the way of duty, that we may truly say, it is a yoke of pleasantness.
Trusting the hand of God and His yoke is the only way to survive our stressful lives. Trusting in His wisdom and His authority rather than panicking and searching for a way out is what I believe Jesus is communicating in this passage. His ways are higher and better. Though the hand life has dealt me in my present situation is full of challenges, I know that God will guide me through and grant peace and comfort for my heart and all the rest my weary body needs.
If you, too, are finding yourself buckling up under the weight of stress, I want to encourage you to join me in trading the stress for a yoke. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. He won’t let us fall, but will walk every step of that stressful path right along with us, whispering to our hearts the way to go. And then before we realize what has happened, our souls will have found a place to rest.