_{Sleep may be needed, but rest for the soul is imperative.}

Words to SPARK your Heart-Song from our co-founder Sherry Douglas.

Hi everyone. I’m Sherry Douglas with Heart-Song. Recently I had a conversation with someone about her needing rest. Not just one night of eight hours of sleep. She felt she needed deep rest that could heal her from several years of overworking, some health issues that had surfaced, and life disappointments that had piled up. Most of us can relate to something similar at some point in our lives. It’s like we’ve been running a constant marathon. We haven’t stopped. We grab food and water along the way, but keep running. Our legs are cramping and it’s difficult to get a breath, but we keep going. We’re on our own and we’re exhausted. Sleep may be needed, but rest for the soul is imperative.

Jesus addresses this substantial need in Matthew 11:28-30. He said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” During this time, people would have used a yoke, which is a bar or a frame to join two oxen or other draft animals together. When the yoke is in place, the animals can only go in the same direction, and they are united in their labor and struggles. The inference is that if we yoke ourselves to Jesus, he will be right beside us in all of life. By being tied to him, not only will we be going the same direction, we will also come to know him. Jesus tells us his yoke is easy to bear. He is gentle and humble, making him the very best partner we could ever have.

Today, we don’t use yokes, but we can relate to feeling like we’re constantly running. We can make a choice to run to Jesus and take some deep breaths. He wants us to join with him so we can come to know him, breathe easier, and have much needed rest.

Live the way you want to be remembered. See you next time.