Many thanks to my guest artist, Michele Sherwood, for these adorable images.
I was suddenly a motherless sixteen-year-old with a physically and emotionally absent father in another state. I could have been dangerously vulnerable, an easy target for someone with bad intent. But, instead, God put many people around me who cared. They were the scab of protection on my wounded heart while I healed from the inside out. They covered me with layers of protective love. Together they provided listening ears, wisdom, practical help like a place to live, help planning my future, companionship, and steadiness on a stormy sea. Now, in my latter years, I have observed how vulnerable we are when we are suffering. And how crucial it is for others to come close and protect the suffering till they can heal.
Not all suffering is as dramatic as the loss of a parent. We can suffer fatigue from the daily grind of trying to make ends meet or the worry over a loved one’s bad choices. We can suffer the weariness of loss of health or relationships. We can have a heavy load of others’ expectations. In other words, we are all sufferers because we’re human. We all need protection and love when things are hard. But even the most kind-hearted humans can’t provide all the help we need. On the deepest level of our being, only God can protect and provide for our souls.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Who of us doesn’t get weary? We try, work some more, and try again. But all our effort doesn’t necessarily get us what we want. Who of us doesn’t carry a heavy burden at one time or another? A spouse is seriously ill, a child takes a downward path. Peaceful rest is hard to come by. But Jesus makes the audacious promise that he will provide rest. How so?

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me …”. Matthew 11:29

We have to come to him first of all, acknowledging that he has what we need. Then we have to be willing to obey- taking his yoke means like oxen in their yoke, we are directed by him. We do what he tells us and go where he tells us. We no longer call the shots. We come humbly, we submit, and we learn. We let him teach us about himself. The amazing thing he wants us to know about himself isn’t what we might imagine. Does he want exhausted hearts to be reminded of his high and exalted other-ness? Does he want the burdened ones to feel the pressure of his holiness compared to theirs? No. He wants the sufferers who come to him to see his tender heart for them.

“I am humble and gentle at heart …”. Matthew 11:29

Gentle=quality of dealing with people in a kind manner, with humility and consideration*
Humble= lowly

At his core, he is kind. He is approachable. He speaks softly. He understands our foibles, fears, and frustrations. His aim is to give us rest, not shame, not ‘you should have’, not ‘why didn’t you do better?’.  He wants to quiet us.  He brings us into his peace and calm.

“you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29

Keep in mind that he is humble and gentle to those who come to him. In the verses preceding in this chapter of Matthew’s record, we see his impending judgement of all who refused to come to him despite seeing his miracles. His tenderness is reserved for all those who come to him.

He also wants us to trade our weariness for his ease. He wants us to turn in our too-heavy burden and take his light burden.

“For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:30

Who are the tired ones in your circle of family and friends? Who is carrying something too heavy for them alone? Who needs your gentleness in a harsh world? Who needs your kindness where it hurts? Who needs your help?
How do we become what the hurting need? We follow Jesus’ example of kindness and humility.
1. Be an approachable safe haven of kindness.
2. Be a really good listener so we can meet them where they hurt. Don’t assume we know what they need. We have to know their question before we can help them see the answer. Listen and listen some more.
3. Meet their needs as we are able. Do what we can to give them love and practical help. Then we have to humbly accept that we aren’t the ‘be all and end all’ to their problems. God is putting other people in their lives who will do what we can’t.
4. Connect them with other compassionate people with whom they have things in common. The hurting need a community around them.
5. Model a healthy and happy lifestyle. We can show them by example what loving God and family looks like. Let them see that we read the Scriptures and obey them. Share a verse that helped us. Pray for them and with them. Be transparent about our own struggles and failures. Tell them your experiences that helped you learn about God. Share good books. Let them see us exercise self-discipline in caring for our homes and our health.
6. Facilitate them forgetting themselves by serving others. Let them serve with you or with someone else who is mature and kind.

* NIV Exhaustive Concordance Dictionary. Copyright © 2015 by Zondervan.