“Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” – Matthew 11:28

Last week we “officially” began the Christmas season. This marks the arrival of Christmas music, movies, lights, trees, snow, Santa hats, ugly sweaters, candy canes, gifts, food, snowmen, etc. This also marks the arrival of untangling the Christmas lights, shoveling the driveway, enduring another family meal, surviving long lines, rushing from one event to another; life is busy and stressful enough without all the extra Christmas anxieties added on!

We are told Christmas is “the most, wonderful time of the year”, but it often feels like “the most, tiring time of the year.” We just want a break from all the burdens, pressures, and expectations. We just want to rest.

How comforting are those words we read from Jesus, “I will give you rest.”

The rest which Jesus is speaking of is not a rest which leads to doing nothing, but the rest which comes from having someone helping you. One summer during college I worked for a moving company. I remember at one house we were finishing moving all the boxes out of the garage and someone in the packing crew had put all of the tools from the garage into a large box. I probably could have inched the box across the driveway one push at a time or attempted to get it on a dolly and pray the tools didn’t fall out of the bottom; but as I was considering what to do, one of my coworkers came over and said, “Can I help you with that?” and together we were able to move the box into the truck; it was still heavy, but it was a little easier because someone was helping.

This is similar to what God did for us in sending Jesus. The difference is that God knew we would need help moving that box before we even knew there was a box to move. He knew you would need to hear that song on the radio after what was said around the dinner table before the date for the family dinner was even decided. He knew you would need that text from a friend after a long day even before you began getting ready for work. He loves you enough to be with you during the easy days and the stressful days. He loves you enough that He came not only to give you rest, but to help you during those moments that cause you to need rest.

So as the burdens and pressures of the Christmas season continue to pile up, may you know the rest which comes from Christ reminding you that your value is not determined by how your food tastes; the rest which comes from knowing His love for you is not dependent upon what gift is found under the tree; the rest which comes from knowing He loves you regardless of if you get your Christmas cards out on time or not.  May you know the rest which comes from knowing Him.

I pray that you have moments where you are not only able to physically rest but where you are able to remind yourself of the love which God has for you. That amidst all the distractions you are able to remember the reason we celebrate, that God so loved the world that He sent His only Son to help you, to comfort you, and to give you rest.

Philip VanderWindt, pastor

Alamosa Christian

Reformed Church