Sitting in the airport terminal thinking about this past week, working on school papers, reading articles, and watching people go by, but my mind can’t get away from the phrase “Come to me.” Such a simple phrase, but when understood fully and applied, life will forever be changed. Jesus 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” (Matt. 11:28-29). What does man need but to come, come to Jesus.
I felt that especially this past week as I reasoned with all that is happening. As I sat down for dinner Thursday evening the heaviness of the day filled my soul. I had just gotten off the phone with a doctor to discuss a mutual patient. My heart was heavy thinking about the conversations that must ensue because of the diagnoses at hand. My mind was heavy at the atrocities happening in Ukraine and my heart broken at the hatred man has for one another. Divisions are happening constantly amongst brothers, sisters, family, friends, churches, governments, and nations.
What’s happening? Human kind is depraved. Yes, there is good, but also evil that seems to be prevailing more with each surpassing day. Jonathan Haidt wrote in an article for The Atlantic “We are immersed in an evolving, ongoing conflict: an Information World War in which state actors, terrorists, and extremists leverage the social infrastructure underpinning everyday life to sow discord and erode shared reality.” How do we guard our minds from this? How do we rightfully think about, interpret, and respond to the information streaming into our brains? The answer “Come to me.”
That me is Jesus. Circumstances may not change but because of Jesus heaviness becomes bearable. Answers won’t always be provided but because of Jesus your soul will find rest. Tears may continue to flow but because of Jesus your joy will be full. Despair may feel relentless but because of Jesus your hope will be restored. Faith rests not in that which is seen but the unseen and the unseen promises of God will be fulfilled. That is how I am able to process the heaviness of this world and have hope for today, tomorrow, and forever. Heaviness has no hold over me because my perspective rests in my God almighty. Man has no power over Him and His ways are perfect. When I look at the world apart from Jesus despair and hopelessness creep in, but when I look at the world through Jesus truth is revealed and truth sets one free. The world doesn't change, but my perspective does. Jesus gives a new perspective, a living hope in the face of that which is crumbling, chaotic, and utterly depraved.
Jesus changes everything. He is with you in the heart of the storm, the mundane tasks of the day, and the joyous seasons of life. He has always been and will always be. He is the hope your weary soul longs for. Come to Jesus and see.