“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. 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.” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

I have had the bittersweet privilege of being in the room with family members as they witnessed their loved one transition from this world into eternal rest. This experienced is heightened and enhanced when we know the loved one is a believer in Christ. Once, I recall a 95-year-old woman, who was a faithful member of our church laying in a hospice room. She was laboring to breathe, and it was just a matter of time before she would breathe her last. I remember hearing her say in a faint voice, “I hope I did enough to get into heaven.” I didn’t know how to respond. I had no doubt that this dear woman was headed to experience rest in the arms of the Lord, and I was troubled by her comment. Why did she doubt?

Has our journey in the Christian faith been comprised of doing stuff, getting things done, performances, work, keeping rules, attending services, giving money and praying the right types of prayers? Has “hurry” plagued our spiritual journey such that we have focused on doing rather than following? Jesus’ invitation to get away with Him is an invitation to recover our lives, not lose it. It is an invitation to unload burdens not to increase the weight of our burdens. Jesus’ invitation is for us to slow down long enough to see how He does life and for us to imitate him. So then, come and get away with Jesus. Take a real rest. Learn new rhythms. Keep company with him. This is your call to freedom!