The Weary Soul Finds Rest

When did weariness enter the human experience? When did life begin with labor, relationships involve struggle, work accomplished by the sweat of the brow, and when did the thorns come to choke vegetation? When did weariness become a foreshadow of death? It happened when man decided to be his own god. In the cool of the evening when God came to the garden with the offer of fellowship, man was hiding.

But God who is rich in mercy continued to offer rest. Rest from labor, rest from worry, rest for the soul. But the rest that God offered came with it an invitation to enter into his provision by trusting him. Every seventh year was to be a year of rest. A year to humbly cease from labor and believe that God would provide what was needed. An invitation for a weary soul to find refuge in the cool of the evening fellowshipping with God. This invitation to rest that God offered was rejected.

There was an even deeper rest that God invited man to enjoy. It was called the year of his favor. Every fifty years the land was to rest, slaves were to be set free, debts were to be forgiven. A time of release, a time of healing, a time to enjoy deep peace and restoration, this year was a gift offered by the heart of a loving God to a weary people. But it was a gift that could only be accepted by a humble heart that would trust God. This invitation to enter into the year of God's favor was also rejected.

Finally, God himself became a man. The angels announced his coming with these words, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men upon whom his favor rests!" When Jesus began his ministry he came to his hometown of Nazareth and was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled it and found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."(Luke 4:18,19) When he finished reading he told them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." And how did the people respond to this good news, this invitation to liberty, vision and freedom from oppression? "They rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could through him down the cliff."(Luke 4:29,30)

Lord Jesus, echoing in my soul and spirit are your words, "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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." (Matthew11:28) At your invitation Lord I come. I come to you leaving behind me deep weariness and finding in you peace and rest for my soul.