I’m feeling extra tired as I write this, for no specific reason, so today’s verse sounds extra comforting. Many times in scripture Jesus urged people to come to Him to have their physical needs met. He understands what it feels like to be tired or hungry or thirsty or sick. Part of the purpose for Him becoming human was to make this clear to us. He know what it’s like. When God created everything He didn’t intend for these challenges to be part of our lives. These problems didn’t exist in the garden. Pain and struggle arrived as part of the fall, because we chose sin. Adam and Eve decided they wanted to have control, to make their own way using their own power and wisdom. They disobeyed and were kicked out of the garden into the world of striving, struggle, sweating, and pain. Today, I continue to rebel, like Adam and Eve, and try to accomplish things using my own power and wisdom. I say, “Just a minute God. I’ll get to you when I’m done with this important thing.” Or “I’ll donate some money to the foodbank after I pay my doctor bills and the rent and buy that hat I saw…” And then I complain about being tired. Or hungry. Or thirsty. Or sore, sick, and sad. Jesus is saying my life doesn’t have to be like that. In today’s verse, He says, “Come to me!” If I put Jesus back in the driver’s seat, I can sit back and enjoy the scenery. I will have rest for my soul. If I trade my ambitions and goals and ideas about how my life should look for God’s will and purpose for me, I will have His infinite strength and wisdom to draw from. It reminds me of a time I was trying to open a spigot. It was stuck tight. I gripped it hard and tried to turn it. I hurt my hand so got some gloves and tools to help me. I sweated and strained and groaned. Finally I looked at the instructions. I had been turning it the wrong way. It turned easily in the opposite direction and opened right away. If I had just turned to the instructions first, I could have avoided all that wasted effort, pain, and frustration. My life can be like that. If I come to Jesus first, He will show me the easy way to accomplish the things that really matter and give me the strength to do it.
Dear God,
Thank you for giving me access to your wisdom. Thank you that I do not need to rely on my own power or cleverness. Lead me to the right goals and show me the way you want me to accomplish them. Forgive me for my stubbornness in wanting to do things my way. Your way is so much better!
CamDevo 