“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?” (Matt. 11:28 MSG)

So many of us feel burned out. Why? After all, Jesus came to give us rest for our souls!

I believe it is because so many follow the Moses initiative. They try to “do” something to earn their Salvation. And so they volunteer for so many things that they burn out.

The problem is, whenever we meet people who are trying to earn their salvation by keeping the commandments, they are never happy!

Now comes the revelation: Jesus, the One who never sinned, died on the cross. He paid the price for anyone who wants to be saved. Jesus does everything for us. He cares! He says:

“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.” (Matt 11:28-30 MSG)

We have to ask ourselves if those who are legalistic will be satisfied. They follow the law, expecting that their good works will save them. They think they are better than others, and they tend to wear out. Let’s look at what Jesus says to us, especially when we are worn out: “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.” (Matt 11:28 MSG)

This is rest that only Jesus can give! “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30 NIV)

I was raised in a Catholic church, but when I was 16 years old, my mother began going to a legalistic protestant church. For the first time in my life I was encouraged to read the Bible, and I thought this was great. Everything looked beautiful. Unfortunately for us, we never learned that we could “Come to me (Jesus), all you who are weary and burdened.” (Matt. 11: 28 NIV), and it wasn’t long before we began to feel worn out and burned out. The problem was, we thought that a specific denomination could give us peace of heart and mind. The Truth, however, is that denominations cannot give us peace. Only Jesus can give us peace. He died for us so that we would be saved. All we have to do is ask Him for His Salvation. We need to accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, and then the door is open for unending grace, unending peace, unending rest to be poured out upon us!

Never forget that when Jesus came down from Heaven, He did so to bring us grace!

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “When Grace Came Down” devotional series, please click here.)