Mike Walsh

I remember in the 1980s personal computers were making their big entrance and people were super excited about the possibilities that this would bring to all of us. People said things like, “we’ll get so much more done” and “this will really help the human race to be more organized and more fruitful.” Here we are 35 years later and while we see that technology has helped us all in a big way, in many ways, it has created more stress and I’m not so sure that we get more done now? My wife often longs for the time when we could go on a drive and not be bothered by our phones and not live under the constant pressure of all that we need to do. 

When we read the gospels we see that Jesus lived under constant pressure of people bringing their needs, trouble and sickness to him for constant help. Jesus lived his life under other people’s demands and trouble, and yet Jesus was never rattled, never worried or stressed. He had an amazing ability to keep the main thing, the main thing. Jesus never allowed the urgent things in his life to crowd out the important things. Jesus always got up early and spent time in prayer with his father, because he knew that time with his father was a non-negotiable, Jesus knew that if he didn’t have time to be with his father, then he was just too busy. The priority of Jesus’ life was always time with his father. 

 “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, he went out and departed to a solitary place; and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35) NKJV    

We can see in this verse that this was where Jesus got his marching orders, this is where he found his peace.

In Matthew 11:28-30 we see Jesus telling his followers and us today the answer for a life that is filled with stress and anxiety. 

Verse “28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."  

He is wanting us to take his example of stopping to get our focus right. In Jesus’ day they would use a yoke to attach two or more animals together.  The reason was that a stronger, more experienced animal would help a less experienced animal to stay in step.  In this passage, Jesus is telling us that we should be yoked to him because he will carry our burdens and trouble instead of us. It is a wonderful way to live, to be under his care and love. He truly cares about our lives, he cares when we’re stressed and burdened. He wants us to have his perfect peace for our busy lives. I want to encourage you to find time each day to place yourself under Jesus’ loving care, he always has our best in mind.

(Mike Walsh is the pastor at Glad Tidings Assembly of God.)