They Need a Healthy Mom

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Rest sounds delightful right now. It’s finally the end of the school week, but between the early rising two year old, the laundry, and the 8:30 basketball games tomorrow morning, rest feels like just a figment of my imagination. I would love a good two hour nap.

Physical rest is not exactly what Matthew speaks of here though. His rest is an all encompassing; throw every worry, every doubt, every piece of sin laden guilt out the window, kind of rest.

The devotion this morning is a plea from me to you. I sometimes think that the line, “She is always taking care of everyone else; she never takes time for herself,” can seem a bit cliché. This may be a reality for you though. As a mom, wife, and teacher, there are days when I am so out of patience and energy that self-destructive behaviors are not only easier, but preferred. But I do still see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. I know that is not the case for many moms.

For those of you who don’t see the light and have burdens that are overwhelming you, I beg you to begin the healing process today. Your children need a healthy mom.

*Seek Godly counseling if you need it. If you’re unsure, seek it anyway.

*Talk frankly with your spouse or a trusted friend. Find someone who you can be completely honest with and who will lift you up in prayer.

*Be intentional about setting aside time each week for rest, or for time away, or for healing.

Don’t believe the lies that you are alone. "For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me." Psalm 31:3

Don’t believe the lies that you can’t forgive and be forgiven. "Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from EVERYTHING from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses." Acts 13:38-39

Don’t believe the lies that you aren’t loved. "God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10

Luther says this in his Morning Prayer (My prayer for you is specifically the last line.)

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into your hands I commend myself, my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Rest For Your Soul

“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.”

Matthew 11:28-30

I wrote the following article for our church website. We have a weekly blog called "Taking Worship Home," and part of my job is to write it every so often. I wanted to share this one here during this busy season of Advent.

The title of this week’s sermon is “What Jesus Has For Me: Disciples Come To Receive.” (CLICK HERE to listen to it.) I honestly didn’t know if I would be able to receive what Jesus had for me in worship this weekend, but then in the opening prayer we spoke these words:

“Enter my reality, quiet the noise, slow my frantic pace, and give to me the rest and restoration my soul longs for that only You can give. Amen.”

“Enter my reality.” My reality on Sunday morning was a squirmy one year old in my lap, an even squirmier two year old sitting on the pew next to me, and Daddy was on a plane to New York. I was sitting there thinking that there was no way I was going to be able to take anything home from worship this weekend, much less write about it. I was wrong. This prayer hit me right where I was, and I intend to memorize it this week. It was exactly what I needed to hear then, and I have already needed to hear it since.

Then came the Gospel reading.

“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.” Matthew 11:28-30

This scripture is not new to me. In fact, in my years of teaching in a Lutheran school, this was one of the verses my students memorized each year. I’ve even sung these words in Handel’s Messiah; but, at one point in the sermon, Pastor Wiechman emphasized the word “souls” in such a way that I had honestly never thought about before. When I hear weary and burdened, I immediately think of needing physical and mental rest. It’s no wonder! “...quiet the noise, slow my frantic pace,...” I know this prayer was not just for me. I am certain these are words we can all relate to. What I really need, what we all really need, is rest in our soul. “...give to me the rest and restoration my soul longs for that only You can give.”

Heavenly Father, We get so busy, especially during this time of year, and as much as we need physical and mental rest, the only way we will truly find relief from our weariness is to find the rest for our souls that comes from You and You alone. Thank You for providing that for us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Rest for Your Souls

“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.”     Matthew 11:28-30

Mom self-help books, well-meaning bookmarks , and greeting cards try to console the tired, weary mom.  It starts off good – Look to Christ to comfort you and give you peace.  Jesus knows how you feel – tell Him about it.  He can give you peace that passes all understanding. 

But sometimes I fear we get our messages crossed a little.  Bible verses like Matthew 11:28-30 can be misleading.  Life with Christ doesn’t mean an easy life.  It doesn’t mean we are sheltered from disaster.  It doesn’t mean we get punished when we aren’t good enough, but it doesn’t mean we are rewarded here on earth when we say the right thing either.  

It’s confusing in today’s culture, but it’s not feel-good.  It’s not about what we do.  It’s about Christ.  And what HE does.

***

I’m tired.  I’m falling asleep reading.  I need to go to bed soon. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

I have a very comfortable bed in the other room and will be seeking it out soon.  I love love love sleeping.  I seek it when I am stressed out, and when I feel overwhelmed.  I want nothing more than to shut out the world by pulling the covers over my head.  Sometimes I just feel like I can‘t handle life. 

“all you who are weary and burdened…”

Yes, that's me.  I’m tired of the mistakes I make.  I’m tired of feeling like I’m not good enough.  I’m quite aware of my sin and my inability to follow the law.  I’m ready to put my trust in the freedom of Christ.

“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.”

‘Christ’s yoke’ = yielding to the gospel.  The gospel is that faith in Christ saves us from what we deserve.  The gospel is Love is the Answer.  The gospel is Hope and Forgiveness and Grace.  It’s God becoming Man to clean up our mess.  HE is the way out from under this weight.  HE is the answer.  Follow His direction.  Matthew Henry’s commentary points out that the ox carries the weight with the assistance of the yoke.  The load is still a big one, but the yoke helps.  It’s a tool.  Christ’s yoke is a tool we can’t afford to pass by.  We can’t carry this load alone.  Christ's yoke is the best way.  It's the only way. 

“..learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart”

Learn from me, as in let’s play school.  Everyday you come to me and seek knowledge.  Everyday you confess, take part of the message, and try to apply it to your life.  Everyday grow in the knowledge and try to imitate Jesus walk.  He is humble and gentle.  If you want to be like someone, be like Him.

“..For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Allow me to borrow from Matthew Henry’s commentary again.  He contends that “God’s presence (Isa. 43:2), Christ’s sympathy (Isa. 63:9; Dan. 3:25), and especially the Spirit’s aids and comforts (2 Cor. 1:5), make suffering for Christ light and easy.”  We have a big job as moms.  We have cared for our babies from the moment we even started dreaming about them.  We want to do everything we can for them.  We feel their pain, we cry over their disappointments, we ache to fix their problems.  We are confused about their perspective, frustrated by their decisions, rooting for their success.  There is a lot here to carry on our backs.  All that Jesus offers makes it easier to carry.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… you will find rest for your souls.”

Lord, thank you for offering me rest.  Thank you for your presence, your guidance, your love and your salvation.  I can take comfort in You.  Continue to mold me and teach me so that I can be the Mom you want me to be.  Amen.