21st September 2026

I have been in such a heightened stress level that I now find it hard to relax and rest. We had to keep alert and be ready to act, but now things seem under control for the moment. Rest sometimes seems such a hard-to-find commodity in our world. We are urged to do more and have more. Even so-called vacations are filled with minute-to-minute activities. So, as our fire alert status was lowered back down to normal, I still did not feel normal at all. I knew I needed special down time with the Lord.

I am not alone in this world. Many are going through their own stresses and battles. We must look at what is going on here in Matthew 11. Jesus speaks here of John the Baptist and him being put into prison, a death sentence on his head. John did things right and called all come to the goodness of God and yet he was rejected by mankind (v.18). Jesus compared that generation to those of the past who as well rejected God’s goodness.

How does the Father respond to such things? He sends the Son to rescue them, and to teach us of the goodness of God. He calls us to rest in him, to seek the comfort of his love. We become weary in our battles to make our own way in this world. Come to God and seek rest. The world can be a scary and unstable place at times. Come to God and seek rest.

This week as the battles raged on in my life with new happenings, new stresses, I kept hearing the voice that said: ‘come to me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.’ That is the message for this week. This is the call to just stop and rest in the Lord: ‘Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you. For you Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living’ (Psalm 116:7-9 NIV).

We have already been rescued. Our future may seem to be uncertain in the world, but in God’s hands it is well secured. God knew we would be burdened by life in general, and so he called us to come to him for the security we are looking for. “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 11:29-30 ESV).

Every time I turn back to the comfort of the Lord’s arms, my burdens melt away and I see hope. Where did Jesus go when the world around him was pressing in on him?” He went to the Father for rest. God told Israel: “…My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14). Come to God, and he will give you rest.

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