‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’
Matthew 11:28 – 30
I have been in the habit of using a trolley to cart my school gear to and from the car. But as the weather has deteriorated, I’ve got lazy – just throwing my bag over my shoulder and piles of books in my hands. Next thing I’m at the chiropractor and getting massage therapy on what muscles I have left. I am severely reminded to maintain my exercise regime, and two weeks later, I am on the road to a full recovery.
I don’t recollect suffering from depression, though I’ve certainly had bad days. I’ve had my share of grief, of separation from family and friends, the disappointment of not getting the job I was after, of not performing to my own expectations, of struggling with my children in their search for identity and purpose, of letting others down. A listening ear heals. A friend heals. Time heals. My confidence in God’s presence in my life has never failed, through all the ups and the downs. There has been no crisis of faith, just the desire to know him more and more, though this is far from everyone’s experience.
For whatever our physical, mental or spiritual ailments might be, there are means by which healing and recovery can occur. We know there are some in our community who are deeply burdened by their marriages, their financial situation, their health, their workplaces. These ailments are real, not imagined and often interact, sometimes making it difficult to differentiate causes. The overwhelming feeling that nothing makes sense is confusing. It makes us angry. Matthew records Jesus’ invitation (11:29): ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest.’ This open invitation to you and me is offered graciously, unreservedly and freely. You must still seek appropriate medical intervention of course, but making sense of your pain, of your experience is where your spiritual journey of healing with Jesus, in prayer, reflection will offer some relief. Allowing yourself to begin that journey is the first step, give yourself permission to acknowledge your confusion and anxiety, find some place that will respect the encounter with Jesus in his word and action. And then be in his presence. We do indeed labour, and the burdens we carry may well be almost unbearable, but he, the Lord, will give you rest indeed.
Mr Peter Douglas
Director of Faith and Mission
