Gifts of Lent: Rest as we Walk with Jesus

While Lent is a natural time to reflect on the harder, more painful aspects of our lives, it’s important to not carry weight we weren’t designed for. Jesus invited us to go through life “yoked” with Him, learning from Him and finding rest for our souls. (Matthew 11:29-30)  It’s as if we come into life with a backpack that gradually has things added to it, day by day, year by year. And Jesus comes in and says, “Let Me carry that with you.”  When we let Him, He promises that the burden will be light.

It’s tempting to take back on our shoulders those things we’ve previously yielded to Jesus. We can start to feel insecure because of our lack of control or clear view of the future. We might question whether God can truly handle our concerns better than we can. Before we know it, the weight of the world seems to be stuffed into our metaphorical knapsack. The beautiful thing is, the invitation for the weary and heavy-laden to come to Jesus never expires.

Jesus chose to walk in our shoes. He knows the heartache and weariness of our days. But though He was tempted (as we are daily) to take His life and destiny into His own hands, He succeeded where we so often fail and He fully trusted His Heavenly Father to provide all that He needed in His time.

Lent can be a time of evaluating what is weighing us down. What is truly our “cross to bear” and what have we picked up along the way because of unhealthy motivations? Sometimes desires for popularity, power, influence or just wanting people to like us can load us up with expectations, duties and responsibilities that were not ours to carry. If something is actually not optional (a chronic health condition, the care-giving of a loved one, economic hardship, for example), remember that Jesus offers to carry it all with you and He is vastly more qualified to bear a cross.

Need more reminders of God’s provision in the midst of trial?

Psalm 16:5-7; Psalm 18:1-19; Isaiah 40:31 and 46:4; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:19