Episode #240 Recover Your Life: The Rest Jesus Wants to Give You – Unforced Rhythms of Grace

Hey friend. It's Jen. Are you coming tired to this episode today? If so, I know that you're not alone because I'm excited and I'm inspired about what we're talking about today, but I'm also coming to this recording tired.

And it's kind of fitting because of the series that we're starting today called Unforced Rhythms of Grace. And I'm pulling that title from the message translation, which is more of a paraphrase translation of a very familiar passage of scripture in Matthew 11.

Most of us are familiar with these verses as they say, come to me all who are weary and heavy laden. But I want to begin today by reading for us verses 29 through 30 from Matthew 11 in the message translation. And it says:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:29-30 MSG)

Isn't that such a refreshing invitation?

Now, honestly, I pushed back a little bit on God as I was planning this new series because it feels like I've talked about being tired and receiving rest at least a few times before.

And he reminded me, even as I'm going through my morning routine today, that even though I've learned these things of him and taught these things of him. I still get tired, and I can still use reminders and new experiences of the rest that he gives me.

I love how this passage of scripture echoes this invitation to life with God. To walk with, work with, and watch for God at work in our lives. That we would learn how he does what he does and how he shows up as he is.

I also think it's interesting to consider the parallel in this paraphrased rendering of these verses, and the ESV of verse 28, come all who are weary and heavy laden.

And how we can see that translate into our daily lives as being tired and worn out and burnt out on doing things for God. It's a constant invitation from the Lord to experience Him in a greater way as He takes off the things that are heavy or ill-fitting on us.

And so if you're tired today, I'm glad that you chose these few minutes to join me here on the podcast and also to connect with God. And as you know, the episode may end here, but the conversations that we get to have with God continue.

He says, come to me. Get away with me. Recover your life. Take a real rest. I'll show you how. Keep company with me. Learn how to live freely and lightly.

And so here's a question we can take to him to talk with him more about it:

God, do I truly believe that you offer me an invitation like this? Where do I struggle with it?

Have a good talk.

And if you've been encouraged by this content, please share it with a friend and help them grow in their conversational relationship with God too!

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