Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.”
Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen.”
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:25-30 The Message
We ALL have experienced burn out if you’ve really committed yourself to something. Why? Because ALL of us haven’t really figured out the perfect balance yet. We’re still learning how to ‘rest’ in Him, and work with and through Him. I like the way Peterson uses the phrase ‘rhythms of grace’ as a concept. Learning how to flow with Him will require knowing Him in a much more intimate and familiar way. When you’ve worked alongside of someone for awhile you begin to learn their work rhythm and pace. That’s what is being described here with Jesus. Do we know Him in our daily walk enough to ‘know’ His pace?
When I strive to be ‘the best’ I often ‘get ahead’ of Him as I am often in my own head and pushing myself beyond Him … as I’m not working on being aware of His ‘pace’. Being aware of the Holy Spirit and conversing with Him throughout the entire process of my day .. needs to be my goal. I’m the type to be a person to “GO! GO!!” This often has gotten me WAY out ahead when it would have been better for me to pace myself, as pushing too hard can cause all sorts of circumstances that are not what you want. I need to ‘keep company’ with Him throughout my day.
What does it mean to really ‘rest’ the way Jesus wants us to?
Have you asked Him to show you how?
If we can hear the Holy Spirit for ourselves and have read the Word / Bible then He will lead us (remind us) to scriptures that speak to our immediate issues, along with advice on how to apply them.
Picture Jesus sitting on the curb of the street watching everyone going by .. faster and faster. Are you willing to go and sit next to Him? Are you willing to sit there with Him and wait till He speaks to you?
Are we demanding Jesus to go with us? Or are we willing to sit with Him and go when He goes?