Rest for Your Soul - Matthew 11:28-30 (Part I)

Jesus says His yoke is easy and his burden is light. But what exactly does that mean?

When I hear the word "rest," I picture a beach getaway or a day to sleep in and do nothing. For those who thrive on busyness, rest can feel guilt-inducing, especially with endless tasks. Maybe you work full-time, manage a household, or are a college student with so many deadlines. Rest may seem impossible.

No matter your stage of life, at times rest has felt like a luxury, not a necessity. This tension between necessity and luxury has shaped my own experiences with rest.

For the past five years, Jesus has been taking me on a journey of trust and learning to truly “rest” in his presence. This journey wasn't easy. I was serving in a big capacity at church while going to school and working as a social worker. I was also a caregiver at home. In 2021, I was severely anemic and received two rounds of blood transfusions. Shortly after, my mom had her first stroke. In 2024, she had her second one and several more hospital visits in between.

But the challenges didn't stop there. In 2022, my dad also had a health scare. Doctors found a benign tumor in his bile duct, and he needed major surgery. At the same time, I made sure my little sister, who has cerebral palsy, was cared for. All of this brought me to a really dark place. I started to doubt God and felt abandoned. Still, I showed up to church and my usual activities with a smile on my face. No one knew how deeply I was hurting. Even I did not realize it, because I stayed busy and numb. I did not have time to think about what was happening.

Eventually, everything became too much. In 2024, I finally reached my breaking point. I could not fake it anymore and knew something was wrong. I felt led to step down from my various roles. I set healthy boundaries and let myself say “no” more often. God reminded me of Mary and Martha. I became like Martha, busy with serving, instead of like Mary, who was at his feet and prioritized his presence (Luke 10:38-42).

I started therapy and took more steps of obedience. Eventually, I made more room to "rest" in God’s presence. It was very uncomfortable. I did not know how to address and acknowledge my feelings or my challenges with God. This led to episodes of depression. Things felt hopeless because the problems did not go away. I was used to suppressing emotions. When God allowed me to feel, it seemed foreign.

How could God say His yoke is easy and His burden light when mine felt heavy (Matt 11:30)? The reality: I relied on my own strength to carry these weights, while Jesus invited me to surrender them. When He says His yoke is easy and His burden light, He means He will lighten our load—not always remove it. A yoke connects animals, such as oxen, so they can share the work. A young ox learns by being yoked to a seasoned one, who carries more of the weight and guides it until it is ready, teaching it through partnership.

Ultimately, Jesus wants to lighten our burdens by inviting us into partnership with Him. His message is not that life will be free of trouble, but that we are not alone in facing it. He offers real rest as we trust and walk with Him, knowing He has already overcome the world (John 16:33).  

Key Verse 

Come to me, all 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.” Matthew 11:28-30

Journal Prompts: 

• What burdens have I been carrying that I was never meant to carry alone?
• What does “rest” look like for me spiritually, emotionally, and physically?
• What expectations from others have become too heavy for me to carry?
• Write a prayer releasing your anxieties, exhaustion, or disappointments to God.
• Write a letter to Jesus about what has been weighing heavily on your heart lately.