Matthew 11:28

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Currently Reading:The Stone Sky (Broken Earth Series #3) By NK Jemisin; On Writing By Stephen King

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Current Obsessions: “Summer House” drama (I’ve literally never watched the show), being outside, deep cleaning/organizing my car and entire apartment

I have a bit of a different kind of post today, but it is something that has been on my heart lately. I said from the beginning that we would yap about anything and everything, so, no matter what you believe in, I hope you’ll stick around! My hope for this community is that it is as diverse as the world around us, and that we all might find understanding and empathy for each other through that diversity.

The other day, I walked to a local coffee shop, and was particularly fascinated by the mural on their wall. I have seen this mural a thousand times; I have even commented on it before. Something about that day, however, made me really take it in and meditate on it. I’ll attach an image of the full piece, but it quotes Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

I have always loved this verse, but there are definitely seasons of my life when it has hit a little bit deeper than others. I think it is fairly obvious that this weariness that Jesus discusses is more than exhaustion from a hard work day, or tiredness from a poor night’s sleep. This is a deep seated weariness of the soul. This verse comes at the end of a section where John the Baptist is sitting in a jail cell, doubting if the stories he is hearing are about the true Jesus, the true Son of God. Do you know how dark of a place John must have been in to be doubting? This man was not known for uncertainty or lack of faith. How hopeless must he have felt? How scared must he have been to believe because he did not want to be wrong, and fall back into that bleakness? That is weariness. That is burden. 

What I also found interesting when rereading this passage was what comes just before this beautiful offer of rest. Jesus is FRUSTRATED! He is condemning the towns he is preaching in, saying that they are worse than Sodom for refusing to repent. He reprimands them because they accused John of being possessed by a demon for fasting, while accusing Jesus of being a glutton and a drunk for eating. There was no winning with these people! How exhausting it must have been to continue to feel compassion for them when they outright refuse to do the same for Jesus or his disciples. I think that Jesus was feeling a bit of this weariness as well, trying to share God’s word to a proud, self-righteous world that refused to listen. 

AND YET! The chapter ends with Jesus coming to the Lord. He praises God for having “hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants” (Matt. 11:25). Between you and me, I don’t think he was actually calling these people wise or intelligent, and there definitely wasn’t a bunch of babies running around preaching the word of God. Jesus thanks God for hiding the truth from the SELF PROCLAIMED wise and intelligent, and revealing it to those who are humble and open minded, as a child might be. Selfishly, this brought a smile to my face. What a slap in the face to those who think themselves the smartest in the room. 

As a Christian, it causes me actual pain to see some of the discourse going around today. I think the loudest Christians in the world right now are the ones that are acting like the towns that Jesus was condemning. They believe they know God’s word inside and out, and therefore assume themselves to be the infallible judges of right and wrong. There is no humility in this. There is no infancy. There is only pride and stubbornness. 

The good news, though, is that for those of us who are willing to admit that we know nothing (cue Game of Thrones reference), Jesus offers rest. And thank God for that. I don’t know about y’all, but as I stumble through adulthood, I get really freakin’ tired. I’m talking tired in my soul. This society, this political and economic climate, this whole world, makes it so hard to simply exist, let alone thrive. There are seasons where every day feels like a fight. And I say that from a place of relative privilege! I know that I have it easier than so many people, and yet I still find myself feeling like I am clawing my way to the surface, just trying to stay above ground. Jesus offers rest from that feeling. Today, I am grateful for that. 

Thank you for reading, and if you have any thoughts on this passage, or want to unburden your own heart, check out the “Contact Me” page! I always love yapping :) 

Love y’all xoxo