“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

An invitation.  To the Jews it was an invitation to come out from under the weight of the law, and the rules imposed by the religious leaders.  An invitation to come to grace.  As I read this scripture today, even as a follower of Christ, I still hear an invitation.

To the one frantically trying to make life work…Come to Me.

To the one trying so hard to be good enough…Come to Me.

To the one who feels the weight of failed expectations…Come to Me.

To the one tired of hoping…Come to Me.

To the weary, the scared, the disappointed, the hurting…Come to Me.

Come, join Me. Discover that I am not harsh, that I carry no whip. Discover that my only motivation is love.  My intentions are not to work you harder, but to give you rest. 

Rest, because as I live life in you, life works.  Rest, because I have already made you good enough. Rest. Let Me be the expectation of your life. I will not fail.

Come to Me, and cease your frantic striving.  Throw off the yoke of performance and join the One who loves who you are, not what you do. You think you are managing your fear. You aren’t. Your fear is managing you.  “There is no fear in love”. Come to Me.  Let Me love you. Fear will leave.

Here, with Me, you will have a different view. You will see your life, even the disappointing parts, in the light of your Father’s perfect plan.  Your hope has had many homes, and the disappointment has been heavy. So much disappointment has left your heart wounded. Make your home here, next to Me. Let Me be your hope. You will not be disappointed.  Your heart will heal.

The invitation is still there. Every day. For me. Come to Me. Come back to grace. Rest.