Matthew 11:28-30

Do you feel as if you're treading water and barely able to keep your head above the waves? This verse might be just the life vest you need!

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

What a relief! Sometimes it seems as if every single day there are multiple burdens that are added to my already shaking shoulders. But Jesus promises to give us rest. There are days when I just don't believe that his yoke is easy, and I attempt to carry my own burdens in my own way. But coming to Christ with my burdens is like grabbing onto the side of a raft after treading water for too long. The relief that pours through my muscles is glorious. My reasons for trying to struggle on my own sink beneath the waves as I cling to Christ, my stronghold. 

Lightning bolts and storm clouds

I love adventure. The thrill of the unknown and unfamiliar brings out a part of me that’s both exciting and a little reckless. One of my favorite places is the airport. The sense of adventure is so strong that you can almost taste it. The most exciting aspect of airports is knowing that I’m about to embark on my own adventure. Just the plane ride itself is full of excitement for me.

Despite the stuffy air, interesting smells and cramped spaces of an airplane, I can be completely content as long as I have a window seat. My absolute favorite part of flying is looking out the window and being able to see the twists and turns of the highways, the curves of the rivers and the clouds that are so thick beneath you, you could sit on them. It makes the earth seem so huge and the lives we live below seem so small.

One of the most amazing things that I have ever seen during a flight was when I was coming back from Mexico one summer. After watching the sun go down, which was amazing in and of itself, the sky became so dark that the black clouds and the sprinkle of the city lights below were the only things I could see. And then the storm began.

We were far enough away from it that it didn’t really affect our flight, but we were close enough to be able to watch it. I remember looking out my window at one particular cloud as the lightning began. I watched as the bolt escaped the cloud and then disappeared just as quickly. The same process happened again and again, and each time I was just as captivated.

I realized in that moment how amazing our God is. You know these things in your head, but when you get to experience firsthand something amazing like that and realize that he is in control of it all, that he created it all, it really puts you in your place. Watching the storm rage from above the clouds made me feel small. It made me realize that I am not in control of my life the way that I think I am. I cannot control the storms that come, and I cannot control where and when the lightning will strike. That sentence would be so frightening to me if it just ended with that period. But praise God it doesn’t! I do not have to be afraid of the storm. I can’t control it, but God is always in control. I can ride the adventures of this life without being afraid of the storms that come.

Galatians 6:8-9

I absolutely love the writings of Paul. He knew exactly how to say things in a way that really hits home for me. After studying his life, I appreciated his words even more. I highly encourage everyone to learn more about the life of Paul if given the chance. These two verse were written by Paul as a reminder of how important our actions are when it comes to eternal life.

Galatians 6:8-9 ~ "The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

So much truth packed into just two sentences! These verses remind me that, whatever I do, there will be a consequence or a reward. As fun as pleasing, or giving into, my sinful nature is, it's only going to bring destruction. And that's just not worth the pleasing feeling that my sinful nature can give me!


I love how Paul says that doing good can cause us to become weary. That is so true! It's hard to do the right thing and can easily tire a person. And not only can doing good cause weariness, but it can also cause impatience. But if a harvest is reaped too soon, then it will not be worth anything. It will be ruined. I would rather have to wait a little longer to reap a harvest on God's timing instead of ruining the entire harvest by reaping it when I think it's time.