Rest Isn’t a Reward, It’s a Gift
- Bishop Keith Butler
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
I’ve met many Christians who define their lives as “too busy,” their emotions as “exhausted,” and their personalities as “burned out.” However, burnout is not just a byproduct of being busy; it’s usually because you have been carrying burdens and problems you were never meant to bear alone. Jesus isn’t calling you to grind your way into a deeper faith. He’s calling you to come to Him, to connect with Him, and to lean on and learn from Him. In Matthew 11, Jesus didn’t shake His head at the weary or act upset with them. He invites them to come and be with Him. Jesus didn’t say, “Come if you’re worthy.” He said, “Come if you’re weary.”
The Greek word for labor means to feel fatigued from hard toil. Heavy laden means to be overloaded and burdened down. This is good news for the mom who’s stretched thin and doesn’t know how much more she can take. It’s good news for the businessman who’s burning out and has to carry more than one person’s workload due to restructuring. This is good news for the teenager who feels overwhelmed with the tasks and struggles that are piling up. It’s also good news for the preacher and pastor who sometimes feel they are doing so much of the ministry's labor unseen.
The most powerful word in this verse is probably yoke. A yoke in the natural connects two oxen to pull a heavy load. Jesus said, “You’re not pulling alone. Tie in with Me.” When you walk with Jesus, your effort is joined with His.
Jesus explained that when you do this, ye shall find rest unto your souls. That word, rest in Greek, is anapausis—it means intermission, a pause. Not just a rest for your body but for your soul—your pseuche—your mind, your will, and your emotions. Jesus wasn’t talking about a vacation or an escape, but rather He is describing a connection.
Practical Application
When you feel burned out and exhausted, take a moment to pause and pray. Ask Jesus to intervene.
