Are you tired?

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Jesus walked this earth just like all people do. He was faced with joys and sorrows, pain and loneliness, persecution and praise. He isn't someone who cannot sympathize with us. So when you read the verse above, read it with the knowledge that He really does know what we are going through.

Let's breakdown this passage:

Jesus asks three questions:
1. Are you tired?
2. Burned out?
3. Tired of religion?

First, let's look at being tired. Jesus is addressing our physical tiredness here. We all seem to run ourselves ragged and don't really take care of ourselves. But, when we finally reach the bed at night we can't sleep well for all the thoughts running in our minds. We can't find the shut-of switch.

Second, Jesus addresses being burned out. This is mental tiredness. People everywhere tire mentally. It's part of being human and trying to figure out life. That shut-off switch is found here but because of all the muck there we can't see, to find it.

Third, Jesus talks about being tired of religion. Jesus wasn't religious. He was and is relational. He exibits this in His close relationship with God the Father and He calls us all into this wonderful relationship. This relationship with God through Jesus is full of delight.

Jesus then answers these questions by saying, "Come to me. Get away with me and you will recover your life." Again He states His answer with three things:

1. Come to me- We must decide to get up and come towards Him. This often takes physical effort to get up and move away from the stressors in our lives and move towards Him.

2. Get away with me- This is a mental decision we make. We have to decide to allow Him to lead us away from the troubles and troubling decisions we have made.

3. Recover your life- Jesus offers a new life, an eternal life with Him beginning now. He promises to walk us through this life with His strength and ability.


Like a personal trainer, Jesus says, "Walk with me and work with me and I will show you how to take a real rest." He leads by example. He knew how to get up and move away from the hustle and bustle of life. He got away and talked with His heavenly Father in order to recover his life so that He would function at full strength.

Ask yourself, "Do I do these things that Jesus talked about? Do I want to really rest?" Think these things over and try them out for yourself.

I love this line, "Learn the unforced rhythm of grace." This means that we have a choice to take hold of the grace He offers us. Just like the mountain rivers run over the big boulders that stand in its way, we too can flow by grace over the boulders of life that stand in our path. Jesus doesn't force this on us. He invites us to join Him in His divine rhythm of grace.

"I won't lay anything ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you will learn to live freely and lightly." When I wear uncomfortable jeans that ride up or fall down on me I don't realize the stress until later on when I put my pj's on. Oh boy, am I comfortable then. Feeling the softeness and good fit I realize how miserable I was. Just like ill-fitting jeans, life that doesn't fit with God's plan for us create stress. It isn't until we slip into God's comfortable presence do we realize how miserable we are. We find rest.

When Jesus asks us to come to Him, get away with Him to a place where we can meet with Him, He guides us into the place where we fit. Life fits us. We have been given the gifts needed for the area He leads us. This doesn't mean we won't have hard times. It means that He will equip us with the tools we need to live.

So, are you tired? Have you physically grown weak? Are you burned out? Does your mind get bogged down? Are you tired of religion? Why not take the path of rest that Jesus offers you?

May you find the perfect rest found by following Jesus. God bless your day.