Rest for Your Soul

Posted on by Jennifer Arimborgo

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“Come to Me, all you 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” (Matt. 11:28-30, NKJV).

Does the imagery in this passage strike you as surprising? A yoke is an instrument of arduous labor. It joins two oxen together so they can pull tediously heavy items forward. Why would Jesus use a symbol of backbreaking toil to teach about receiving His gift of rest? Why didn’t He say something like, “Come, climb into My hammock while My angels fan you gently and serve you lemonade”? Or “Come, collapse on My heavenly mattress, pull up My sumptuous covers, and you will find rest for your souls”?

There’s an excellent reason. He chose the symbol of a yoke because all of us, in real life, are carrying weighty responsibilities. We can’t just cease from our obligations and take a perpetual vacation. He wants to teach us to be at rest on the inside – in the depths of our souls – even as we carry out our everyday activities.

The yoke binds the two oxen together and makes them one unit. When you unite yourself to Jesus, you unite yourself to His rest. He is always deeply at rest in His soul. When you and He are entwined together, that profoundly peaceful restfulness flows from His soul to yours. Then, no matter what the activity, you move through it in His strength, not your own.

“Learn from Me.” That means, “Lean into My bosom as I impart to you My rest. Receive the peace I am ever pouring into you. Discover a new way to live. I will train you to cease from your own toilsome labors as you instead let Me do the work through you.”

How? It all starts with those first three words:

“Come to Me…” The more we heed His beckoning… the more we come into His arms… the more we spend time with Him… the more we will learn His lifestyle of restfulness. Then we will be able to truly declare with Him, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light!”

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What are your observations about the rest that comes through oneness with Jesus?

36 thoughts on “Rest for Your Soul”

  1. Very well said.

    It amazes me me how many people today have given up on religion because they do expect that hammock and lemonade. We’re here to learn and grow, not be catered to. We learn by doing and experiencing, but God is still there to make it easier for us if we’re willing to have an open heart and a little humility.

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  3. whenever I don’t spend much time in the Lords presence, I find myself worry about many little things – no peace. But when I focus on Him, all these things don’t matter – I am more peaceful through out the day even when things don’t look like the way I would prefer.

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  7. It is a rest like no other. Even after a good nights sleep, I usually have a slump around 3 pm. The Lord blesses me/us will complete, whole body, mind and spirit rest, when we choose to partake of it.
    I have long loved this passage of Scripture. There is so much there! I love the invitation: Come to me, all who are weary and burdened. All means all! And we come with our burdens, troubles and distractions. We don’t need to get things tidied up before we come to the Lord, in fact it’s the opposite. If I will bring my burdens to Him, He takes the weight for me.
    What a loving God we serve!
    Always a blessing to read what you have shared Jennifer. Thanks.
    Chuck

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      3. Yay! I’m glad! You are very welcome!
        Yes, this subject is fast becoming one of my favourites as well. I am so thankful that even when the world around me is utterly restless, without peace, I can rely upon His promises and find true, calming, reassuring, peace-full rest. Also, when my physical body or mind is feeling weak or tired, I can trust in Him to provide enough strength for each day.

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  9. Insightful post, Jennifer 🤔 The thought of being yoked like oxen vs laying in a hammock sounds like a no-brainer. Yet how comforting to be yoked with Jesus and know you’re on the right track vs the most comfy hammock where you’re laying awake all night restless with worry … Yep, it’s a no-brainer! 😎🙏✝️💜 Jackie@KWH

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  10. Seeing always into the spirit realm will always confer rest. A time came when the Syrian army came Elisha. His servant, Gehazi was almost paralyzed with fear. But Elisha could see angels encamped them. Then he prayed for the opening of Gehazi’s eyes. Gehazi’s eyes popped open, he too could see into the spirit realm. Then, he was at rest.

    When the storm came. The disciples of Jesus were wearing themselves out frantically in a bid to save their lives. But Jesus could afford to sleep. Because He could see into the spirit realm. But when they remembered to invite Jesus to the situation. He calm the storm. There many people going through storm of lives whose lives will be at rest only if the can invite Jesus into the situations. May Holy Spirit teach us more 🙏

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    1. I love that story about Gehazi! I was just sharing it with my sister-in-law very recently. More are those that are with us than against us! Amen, Father, open our eyes to see more and more of what You see! Thank you so much for your thoughtful sharing, Chris 🙂

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  11. Being yoked with Jesus. I wonder if when the burden gets too heavy that is when He takes the full load so we do not collapse. That is what Cast you burden upon Me and Rest upon Me. may mean in this context. I certainly know that when I personally was on the Radium Journey last year I felt and knew He was carrying the load because I was in myself feeling very fragile. His Burden is light. We often carry ‘stuff’ He never intended. Blessings and Peace!

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