Come to Me… And I will Give you Rest

 "Come to me, all you who are weary and Heavy-laden, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28–30

The Struggle to Rest

When you read that scripture, how do you feel? Do you lean into it and crave that rest but can’t quite grasp or reach it? #Me too!!

Recently, I had a conversation with my cousin about how we’re both “doers” — always busy, always thinking about what’s next on the list or what I should be doing. It was this conversation that sparked this blog. For me, rest feels elusive. I often think about this, and write about it, because it is something I desire to find and yet it seems unattainable!

I call myself a “Martha” trying hard to learn the ways of “Mary.” I want to be content just sitting at Jesus’ feet — not continually striving, just being with Him. But… is that even possible? Can we be productive, responsible people and still truly find rest?

Redefining Productivity and Rest

I’m definitely wired as a “doer.” When I’m idle, I feel like I should be accomplishing something — and if I’m not, I feel guilty or lazy. On the flip side, when I’m productive, I feel good about myself. So, I struggle with this whole “rest” thing. In thinking about this now: Maybe my definitions of productivity and rest need to change?

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns... See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin." Matthew 6:26-28. 

Yes, redefining rest is exactly what I need to do. As I ponder this, I can see how productivity isn’t only physical. It can be found in being still, in listening, in worship, in simply sitting at the Father’s feet (Like Mary!). Maybe rest doesn’t always mean inactivity — maybe it’s about trusting while we move.

What Is My Motive?

The more I think about it, the more I realize that it’s not about whether I’m doing something or not — it’s about the why. What’s driving me? Is it fear, anxiety, people-pleasing, pride? Am I doing it because I believe it’s all on my shoulders? Am I feeling like I am the ONLY one who can do it right!? I say these things because all have been true for me throughout my life… (insert cringe emoji here)

Now that I reconsider this scripture, when the Lord spoke to Martha He said "Martha, Martha... you are worried and upset about many things..." 

He didn’t criticize her activity — He addressed her worry. That was the real issue. Mary, on the other hand, wasn’t caught up in anxiety. She had chosen the better thing — to emotionally rest at His feet. "...but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:42 

So maybe the question isn’t, “Should I be doing less?” but “Can I do what I do from a place of rest?”

Where Do We Find That Rest?

Like Mary, Jesus invites us to focus solely on Him. I picture a parent gently taking their child’s face in their hands and saying, “Look at me.” Isn’t that what He does with us? We’re buzzing around with a million things on our to-do list, and He softly says, “Look at Me.”

Years ago, I learned a way to study Scripture by emphasizing different words in a phrase. Let’s pretend we are the child and Jesus is holding our face and saying:

• “Look at ME.”
• “LOOK at me.”
• “Look AT me.”

Did reading it in this way change anything for you? It may not be a big, profound change, but maybe a small subtle one? When I read these words, in those three different ways, I do feel like a child that needs to be strongly encouraged to stop, to pay attention and to listen. I am suddenly aware that something is important here and that I may miss it if I don't look at Him.

Each version says something a little different. It’s as if He’s reminding us not just to look, but understand who we’re looking at. And He does this, not with harshness, but with love — and with a smile that says, “I know this is hard for you, and I’m here.”

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28-30

Now let’s try it again with:

• “Come to ME.”
• “COME to me.”
• “Come TO me.”

I don’t know about you but, sometimes I need some extra time and encouragement to really "GET" things, lol! So, repeating this exercise is helpful to me to hear and see what He is saying!

And in that “Come to me…” invitation, He adds: “Take My yoke upon you…”

Could it be that His “yoke” is about trust? About exchanging our fear and control for faith? That we stop carrying burdens we were never meant to bear — and start walking with Him instead of ahead of, or without Him?

A Shift in Perspective

Let’s try to visualize two scenarios’: you're doing the same task — maybe working, cleaning, helping someone — but in one version, you're carrying the full weight and burden yourself, anxious, stressed, tense and resentful. In the other, you're doing the same things only alongside Jesus, yoked with Him, trusting Him, and letting go of the fear and anxiety. Same action, completely different results in spirit, attitude, and feelings.

That’s the shift I’m trying to lean into: learning that rest isn’t necessarily stillness — it’s actually more about surrender. Wow. What a great perspective shift!

Oswald’s Reminder

Interestedly, Oswald’s May 18^th devotion emphasizes a similar thing:

Living Simply --- Yet Focused

​Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?​ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?​ And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.​ Matthew 6:26​-28

“Jesus is teaching here that growth in our spiritual life comes not from focusing directly on it, but from concentrating on our Father in heaven… if we will stay focused on Him, instead of our circumstances, we will grow spiritually — just as ‘the lilies of the field.’”

That makes so much sense. Our hearts grow at rest when we stop obsessing over outcomes and refocus our eyes on Him.

Resting in His Yoke

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me."  John 14:1

Sometimes I struggle to articulate a concept that I feel, but can’t quite put into words. So let me try to recap what I’m learning:

• God invites us to REST in Him, not just physically, but also in our heart and mind.
• We can be active and productive while still walking in His rest and peace.
• Rest comes from trust, not just from stillness.
• The kind of rest Jesus offers is only found in Him; we can’t manufacture it ourselves. 

“…he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:31 

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Final Thought

What if true rest isn’t about stopping… but about surrendering?

What if it’s not about doing less… but about trusting more?

Thank you, Father for helping me to redefine, see, understand, and embrace YOUR concept of REST! Help me to fully grasp and live it out each day. Help me to take YOUR Yoke and leave my restlessness, fear and anxiety behind. I do believe in this, help me overcome my unbelief! In Jesus’ name, amen!