Memo to self: I am on a journey.

To be completely honest, it gets a bit discouraging as I see the days go by and I don’t see the really big breakthrough in abiding in Christ. It’s sort of like me and my Lose It app. I count my calories pretty “religiously.” And yet the tonnage, I mean pounds don’t decrease as fast as I would like. Again the confessions of an impatient person.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

And as Andrew Murray writes, “Rest for the soul: such was the first promise with which the Savior sought to win the heavy-laden sinner. Simple though it appears, the promise is indeed as large and comprehensive as can be found. Rest for the soul–does it not imply deliverance from every fear, the supply of every need, the fulfillment of every desire?” He then writes, “The rest is in Christ, and not something He gives apart from Himself, and so it is only in having Him that the rest can really be kept and enjoyed.”

So rest comes when I abide. I abide when I come to Jesus and take His yoke and allow Him to teach me. And in order for me to do that, I must come to Jesus with everything. All of my stuff. My fears. My desires. My hurts. My pain. My joy. My thoughts. My dreams. My regrets. My joys. My sadness. Everything. And He reassures me that He is humble and gentle at heart. And it’s when I come to Jesus with all my stuff that I will find rest for my soul. Isn’t that something I should be doing already? Isn’t that something I know? Yup. But I only do it from time to time. No wonder I experience His rest from time to time. I don’t come to Jesus with all my stuff and I don’t stay long enough for Him to teach me and to give me rest for my soul.

That’s my next step. That’s what I need to do. “Father, teach me to come to Jesus with all my stuff all the time. Help me to stay in His presence, with all my stuff, so I may learn from Him. And find rest for my soul. Thank you Jesus, for your gentleness and patience with me.”

the journey continues…