Guest Author - Susan Anspaugh

The message of Christ is not for everyone. The message of Christ is for a peculiar people; a people beaten down by the world. It is not a ‘winner’ faith. It is the faith of those who have longed for something in their lives beyond the rewards of this world. It is the faith of a people who have realized they are lost and alone; who have recognized the fact that they are not what they should be and they never will be. It is the faith of a people who are willing to stand before the world and say, “I cannot make it on my own. I need a lot of help. I am willing to believe in what I cannot see, hear, taste, touch, smell and am willing to change my life today in the hope of this unknown world. In my spirit, no matter what my outside surroundings, I am weary and worn out by the burdens of life.”

Jesus said, “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 the burden is light.”
Matthew 11: 28-30

Gentleness; humility; rest in my soul. I, personally, find life often very difficult; it is sad and disappointing and I am disappointed in myself. Not only will I never achieve what I wanted in the world, I will never even be satisfied with myself/who I am. I think things I should not. I want things I cannot have, yet continue to lust after them. I am kind to strangers and go home and have no patience with my family. I complain of being too busy and worry about the worth of my life when I am not busy. I distract myself by buying things or watching TV, but underneath I wonder what life is all about. And, because I am getting older (past the ½ century mark), I wonder how could it have gone so quickly and how did I get this old? How long do I have? What can I do with the time left?

But Christ Jesus promises me rest for my soul—that part of me no one else can see (although they can see what is going on by the way I choose to live my life) if I am willing to come to him. But, you see, it does not stop there. In order to obtain rest for my broken, hurting soul I not only must come, I am required to take on the yoke of Christ. This is where we balk. Because a yoke is used for keeping cattle in line so the owner can get them to do what he has planned for them. If I take on the yoke of Christ, I must become his servant; his cattle; his to do with as HE pleases and not so much what I please.

It is funny, isn’t it? We live lives that cause us sorrow and pain and we hurt those around us with our deceitfulness, lies, and selfishness and even when we realize we are lacking in perfection, we resist the yoke of Christ. We value our human freedom above the peace of God. So, not everyone will come to Christ, because we are not willing to truly turn our lives over to him and trust him, not even for that which we most inwardly desire—true rest in our souls; peace with all that happens in life; and a purpose that is eternal.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13