Rest in GodSample

The rest is His story

A little while ago, my father-in-law offered me some garden pebbles he no longer needed. I told my father-in-law that I would love the garden pebbles. I did not need the garden pebbles.

It was during my third trailer load, after filling and emptying my rusty, traumatised wheelbarrow for the 600th time, that I owned this cracker of a decision that led to a mountain of pebbles (still) in my front yard. I would suffer the aches and pains in silence, even that gouge on my shin where my faithful wheelbarrow eventually turned on me. No one can know the real price I paid for those free pebbles.

Yes, the rest, ibuprofen and chiropractic adjustments I had after the hard work could be fashioned into a convenient little nod to ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened’.

But Jesus isn’t a comfy couch and a cold drink after a long day. He isn’t offering relief, therapy, or ‘life hacks’ and, sadly, He isn’t offering to push the wheelbarrow. The rest He is offering is Himself. It’s His freedom and friendship. It’s a relationship of inconceivable intimacy with the creator of the universe. It’s a life of surrender, purpose, peace, and wholeness, of gentleness and humility. Our best life.

Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden is light, and I believe Him. But believe me, those pebbles will come in handy.

Written by JUSTIN KENDALL