The Antidote for Anxiety and Depression: Trust in Abba Father’s Care – Pt 57
Rest for Your Laboured and Heavy-Laden Soul!
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
– Matthew 11:28
On my journey of healing from the severe negative impact of complex trauma, I have been involved in a very long and arduous spiritual and mental or emotional process yet I am still a work in progress. Each day as I write these devotionals, I receive new revelations of who God is and make new self-discoveries which are necessary for the total manifestation of my healing and deliverance. As a result, a few days ago I realized that the most tiring aspect of my journey has been my masking and pretending that I had already gotten over and let go some things for which I was still carrying the hurt. In particular, I discovered that I had been suppressing an anger towards God for not protecting me as a child therefore, all along it has been difficult for me to reconcile all the hurt I have experienced in light of the new revelations of who God really is, and accept the truth that God really loves me, that He is Faithful and Good, that He will protect me, et cetera. I read these in His Word, I confess them with my mouth, I share them with and encourage others who testify that they are being ministered to and blessed because they believe what I share. However, this morning the Holy Spirit asked me what seems to be a very hard question, that is, “Joanne do you believe I AM all that I’m revealing to you and that I do indeed love you with an everlasting love?” All my life I have professed that I believe in Almighty God. However, today His Holy Spirit confronted and enabled me to be true to myself and my God. The truth is that I have been labouring and heavy laden with unbelief among other things. I only needed to come to Jesus, unburden and ask Him to help my unbelief.
In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
The word “labour” comes from the Greek word kopaio, and defines the most wearisome kind of labour. The Greek tense used for this word defines people who have been working, labouring and striving on a job with all their might for an extended time without a break. Therefore, the task has been exhausting, wearisome, and unending as the more they labour under this load, the more the work gets and the longer it takes to be accomplished (Renner, 2003).
The phrase “heavy laden” is from the Greek word phortidzo, and signifies a load or burden that is normal and expected for an individual to carry in life (Renner, 2003). The weight of this load or burden depends on the distance of the journey that this individual is on. The longer the journey, the heaver laden the load or burden.
By using the phrase “heavy laden”, Jesus is really referring to persons who have been carrying out their duty for a very long time yet the task is not yet accomplished but there is still so much more work left to be done. It has not been an easy or instant road for them and the journey has only just begun as there is still a far distance to travel. Just the thought alone of the remaining distance or task ahead cause these people to be weary, both mentally and physically.
The word “rest” is derived from the Greek word anapauo, which means to rest, to relax, to calm, or to refresh. The root of this word is pauo from which the word “pause” is derived. Hence the use of the word anapauo in this portion of Scripture conveys the meaning to pause, to cease, to desist, or to refrain (Renner, 2003).
Jesus is beckoning, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, that is, all of you who are working, labouring and striving under the most exhausting, wearisome and unending load, for an extended period of time without a break yet there is no sight of its end so you are both mentally and physically weary, and I will give you rest, that is, I will relax, calm or refresh you by giving you the ability to pause, cease, desist, or refrain from this labour; in other words, have a hiatus or get away from it for a while.”
Maybe for a very long time now you have been on a journey of healing from severe hurt by ceaselessly labouring on overcoming, and heavy laden with the load of various negative emotions as a result of past traumatic experiences, to the point of being not only physically but also mentally exhausted yet your effort is unending. However, Jesus is inviting you to come unto Him and He will enable you to take a break and get away from it all so that He can relax, calm, or refresh your soul in His presence. When you desist from constantly focusing on the complex trauma, the bad memories, the pain, the derogatory remarks, the people who have hurt you, et cetera, and begin to think about the goodness, faithfulness and love of Almighty God for you, you will experience His refreshing peace. Jesus is patiently waiting with wide open, caring arms to receive you. Would you come unto Him today?
God bless you!
MY PRAYER FOR TODAY
Papa I worship and glorify You and greatly praise Your Great name. Thank You Jesus for the invitation to come unto you so that I can trade my weariness for Your calmness. I do believe with my whole heart that You are truly Good and Faithful God and that You love me with an everlasting, unfailing love. I declare that as from today I am taking a hiatus from all that toxic labour and spending more time in the presence of my Daddy where I will be refreshed. I pray this by faith in Jesus’ mighty name with thanksgiving. Amen!
