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

When you are physically and mentally exhausted you would not be able to love and serve. Jesus said this about John the Baptist in verses 11-12, “Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist, yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.”

No wonder, the life, and ministry of John the Baptist were very heavy and busy, especially when we think about what Jesus said about him and his ministry.

Not only the physical and mental exhaustion can make us unable to love and serve the way God intended us, but also it can cloud our thinking process with doubts.

Added to his busy and heavy work schedule as a forerunner of the promised Messiah, now John was arrested and placed in prison. No wonder John the Baptist, the greater than all the prophets, was a victim of such an adverse thinking process of having doubt in his mind about Jesus.

When John was in prison, he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask him, “are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else? (verses 3-4). In essence, the question is – if you are the promised Messiah, why these bad things happen? Why was he placed in prison? You see John announced and introduced Jesus to the multitudes by saying this, “The man who will come after me is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and untie his sandals.” This is what he testified about Jesus. Now the bad circumstances of his life caused doubt on the promised Messiah, whom he already opened the way as an introducer or forerunner.

I am so glad even John the Baptist was a man like us. Praise God if  Jesus helped John the Baptist in his doubt, he would help me as well in my times of doubt.

Thirdly, the past pitfalls, mistakes, and sins when not confessed and agreed with the Lord,  can also create physical and mental exhaustion. Jesus highlights the sin of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. (verses 20-23).  Although time and time again they heard about the need to repent and change their ways, they would not come to Him in repentance for forgiveness and blessings. They continued in their unrepentant state which resulted in a life of weariness and heavy burden.

You see when you agree with the Lord and confess your mistakes, he grants you comfort and rest for your souls. Who knows how many are out there living in discomfort, unrest, weariness, and burden simply because of their unwillingness to accept their errors, mistakes, and sins. What an easy way out the Lord offers! Repentance, confession are not a bad or shameful words.  It is a beautiful and re-energizing word with God’s power and healing behind it. However, agreeing with the Lord is very hard for many. As a result, they live in weariness and heavy burdens.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” The way to rest, comfort, and peace is only one. The way of Jesus Christ. You see he carried your sins, iniquities, and sorrows on his divine shoulders and paid for you to make you a brand new creation, honorable vessel for His amazing name.

Jesus calls you. Would you come?

“Father in  heaven, I am weary and heavily burdened. I need rest. I believe in your promise. You said, come to me, all you are weary and burdened, I will give you rest. I believe only you can give comfort and rest to my unrest and weary soul. I believe Jesus died for my sins and shortcoming by fully paying for it with his blood. I accept Jesus as my savior and Lord. Help me to trust you every moment of my life and walk with you in obedience all the days of life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”