Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) is a beautiful reminder of Jesus’ invitation to exchange our burdens for His rest. He says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Jesus calls us to take on His yoke because it is light and easy to carry. Often, we find ourselves burdened and weary, not because of what God has placed on us, but because of worry. Matthew 6:31-32 (NLT) tells us, “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” Our constant worrying about food, clothing, and shelter weighs us down and takes away our peace.
Yet, Jesus invites us to lay those worries at His feet. The only burden He wants us to carry is His, and it is light. God’s desire is that our minds be focused on seeking His Kingdom and righteousness, as Matthew 6:33 (NLT) says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” When we make seeking His Kingdom our priority, He promises to take care of everything else.
What’s remarkable is that God doesn’t require us to work for the things we need; He adds them to us. As we seek Him, He takes our burdens and worries and, in return, provides for all our needs—food, shelter, clothing, and much more. It’s a divine exchange. Jesus wants us to give Him our heavy burdens so He can give us His light yoke in return.
This is why Matthew 6:33 is one of my favourite verses. It gives my life purpose. People often wonder why I spend so much time in church, but it’s because I’m seeking God’s Kingdom. In doing so, I’ve experienced God’s faithfulness firsthand. We have never gone hungry, never lacked shelter, and never been without clothing. God has always provided because He is faithful to keep His promises.
Yesterday, at the Kesha (night vigil), I shared how much I love God and how talking about Him excites me. While I may be quiet in general, when it comes to God, I can talk endlessly because He is everything to me. Today, my heart is full of joy because, during yesterday’s Kesha and today’s session at Nairobi Chapel, we talked about fear and anxiety. I can confidently say that God has spoken to me about the things I’ve been worried about.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” This scripture truly came alive for me because He has quieted my anxious thoughts and filled me with a peace that surpasses all understanding. I can’t even explain it to myself!
This is the power of trusting in Jesus—He takes our worries and gives us His peace. So, let us accept His invitation to take on His light yoke, seek His Kingdom, and trust that He will take care of everything else.