Oh, Weary Heart Rejoice! - A Devotion For Mums

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Need I ask you momma if you feel tired today? This condition is so common for mums that it almost seems like an autopilot answer when people ask us how we are.

Not only do we have to contend with womanly hormonal issues (need I say more?), or the pressures of being adults with responsibilities but we also have childcare-related demands to take care of.

But it’s not just actually doing these things that tires us out. It’s the mental burden of trying to balance many different aspects of our lives.

It’s the stress of dealing with people (including ourselves!), feelings, and tasks.

It’s the anxiety over situations with our kids that we don’t have an easy answer for.

It’s our children’s health issues, friend issues, or screen time issues. All these burden our hearts and our thoughts.

And so the answer isn’t simply to take a day off and stay at home watching TV and painting our nails. This won’t quiet our hearts with the assurance of hope. Even if it does momentarily distract us.

What we really need is to rest in Jesus. And in fact, only Jesus can give us real rest. Even if we’re still busy. He can quiet our hearts and fill us with peace even while we’re doing life.

Focus verse

I love the devotion focus verses today because Jesus says:

“take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In other words, we do need to do something to find rest in Jesus. We need to take his yoke upon us.

Now, a yoke is a constraining harness used to keep oxen moving according to the farmer’s will. That sounds pretty limiting and painful, doesn’t it?

When I am bearing Jesus’ yoke, I can’t go my own way but I must submit to His will. I need to accept that He is king and I’m not. And yes sometimes it’s painful.

However, although taking His yoke upon us is a difficult thing to do, Jesus says:

“for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Though resting in Jesus means that we need to submit and surrender to His constraints and control, this is actually what will give us true rest because He is good, and His limits are what will keep us on the right path.

This doesn’t mean passiveness on our part. Remember we’re walking with Jesus! We have a big part to play. But the big difference between us and the world is that we’re walking with Jesus, while everyone else is walking solo.

While we have the constraints that come with submitting to Jesus’ will, we also have all the joy, peace, and rest that comes from following the will of the King of Kings. And that’s the best life we could ever hope for.

Questions for reflection:

What areas of your life have been burdening you?
How does this affect your relationship with God, your husband, your children?
How can you surrender control to Jesus as you remember how light and easy His yoke is?

Prayer:

Thank you, Jesus, that you are good and your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Thank you for your guidance in my life, and for your beautiful constraints, which mean freedom and joy. Thank you for the true rest that you offer me. Forgive me Lord for my moments of control, fear, and anxiety. Help me Jesus to give you everything and trust in your beautiful will. Amen.