Have you been given much? Have you been giving much? Similar questions that remind me of what Jesus said in Luke 12:48 “To whom much is given, much is required.”

Life can get pretty frantic and we can get frustrated, out of sorts, trying to make it all happen in time. Sometimes we think we have too many responsibilities, too many balls to juggle, and just not enough hours in the day. There are the constant pressures of work, church, maintaining a healthy marriage, raising a family, the constant motion of kids and grandkids, friends, hobbies, travel, home maintenance, vehicle maintenance, and ….add the items from your list of “to do” projects.

My former Pastor Johnny Jackson, called it “the tyranny of the urgent”. We’re constantly interrupted by that thing that has to happen – now! For example, in the middle of writing this article, I had to leave and take my daughter to the dentist. As the saying goes “Life is what happens while we are planning our future.”

Jesus offered a solution to these challenges. He said” Come to Me, all you 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.” (Matthew 11:28-30).

I first saw these scriptures written in stone at the Mountain View Cemetery in Colville, Washington, the town where I lived until I was 17. My adoptive mother and father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and many people I knew years ago are buried there. On occasion I have visited Mountain View and walked around, reading the names on the headstones and recalling many memories of those I once knew.

I always thought Jesus was referring to the rest of eternal life with Him, which can be a comfort to those visiting a cemetery, but that is not the context of His statement, which is speaking of yoking with Him, joining Him, so that He can assist us handling the burdens of daily living.

Three easy ways to do so are 1) through prayer: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 6)

2) Fellowship with other believers “ And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. “ (Hebrews 10:24-25). Few things are more encouraging than being able to share our hearts, our successes, our failures, our prayer requests, our hopes and dreams with like-minded believers who have gone through, are going through, or will go through many of the same experiences. Paul encouraged the believers in Galatia (and us) to “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2).

3) Carefully and prayerfully reading the Bible, since “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17)

Jesus told his disciples “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

At times we may feel unworthy of the ministry God has given us, thinking “someone else can do it better”. This probably true in most cases, but the key question is “what is God asking me to do?”

Another Christ friend of mine once spoke of how he was reminded (by the enemy) of a previous failure many years prior that made him feel undeserving of leading music in the church. He agreed that he had previously sinned, as we all have, but then praised God that not only was he forgiven, he was given the opportunity to lead worship and then did so joyfully.

May God grant you peace this week.