“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 our souls, For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’” John 21: 16
Life is Hard, my friends. It throws things at us that seem so much more than we can handle—at least alone. Often we say to ourselves “I have had more than my fair share of struggles,” yet what I know in my heart is that every step along the ways Jesus was with me!
One morning in my “more than my fair share season”, well into the months of grieving the loss of a 33-year marriage, I was feeling especially sad. I was nestled in the upstairs alcove in my “prayer closet,” looking out of the large window onto my lovely tree-filled front lawn. I felt the burdens of loss, of shame, of uncertainty, of guilt…of all those things we heap on ourselves when our world falls apart! That morning, Jesus chose not to leave me in that place of despair!
Through the feelings and even tears, I heard in my spirit the gentle voice of my Savior whisper to me---“Come to me, Karen, for my yoke is easy and my burden light!” I heard His reassurance to me that I did not need to cry out to Him, “Come Lord”—because He was already there. My need, my hurt, my angst was my cry to Him. Suddenly, my burden was no longer mine, but His!
“Thank you, Jesus,” my heart cried out to Him! Thank you! I love you so very much!
Once more, I heard His voice, speaking to me in my heart the very words He spoke to Peter on that shore after the resurrection — “If you love me, Feed my sheep!”
My hand flowed over the pages of my journal, as I absorbed this wonderful promise from my Savior, as well as the charge to use my sorrow for His glory!
I love you Jesus and believe so much in your grace and mercy and power in my life. I can rest assured in you because you are
my Rock,
my Redeemer,
my Source for life
my Savior
my Friend.
You are my Compass and my Guide.
I do not have to utter, “Come, Lord Jesus, Come,” for You are present.
Always and forever
I know that like I know my own skin. As the psalmist penned, “You hem me in.” *
I am secure in your arms of support and protection.
You fold me into your very being.
You listen and speak into the tired, broken spaces of my heart and my life.
In you I find rest for my weary soul.
I find space to breathe, to center, to still the swirl of emotions within me.Then, when I am ready,
when I have gathered from you all the nuggets of truth and life,
when I have surrendered my doubts and fears,
when I have breathed in deeply the power and light of your Spirit,
when I know Whose I am and that I am to go –
You gently, oh so gently, release me from your arms,
You pry my fingers from your robe,
You face me toward the opened door,
and ever so lovingly invite me forward.Oh, Jesus, I can even now feel the anticipation, the slight angst of the challenge,
The excitement of doing your Kingdom Work,
The questioning, “Can I do it?”
“Am I ready?”
But insistent, light, gentle prodding in the small of my back,
propels me forward and I cross the threshold of the open door—
Into the realm of ministry,
of cares and needs,
of love and mercy
Into the emptiness of the lonely, scared, and wounded
of those whose needs have seared Your Heart, Loving One.
As I enter their lives, their burdens and hurts,
I know that I may be the answer to a piece of their prayers.
Humbly I bow,
I get on my knees,
I honor and bless you, Jesus, for entrusting to me,
even for a day or a season,
some of Your beloved sheep.I thank you for the lessons learned in Your Presence; for the love grafted into my heart, the insight beyond mere seeing you placed in my eyes, for the comfort and hope you poured into my words;
for creating me,
shaping me,
cleansing me,
transforming me,
challenging me,
and ultimately for using me in this world of broken and weary souls.And so, my Friend,
This precious time in the safety of your arms is almost over for this day.
The door stands open!
Who will be out there today for me to love,
to nurture,
to laugh with
or to cry with?
I am ready to be Your light and love, Your peace and hope.
And when I am used up and poured out,
I will once again need your arms and breath and life and power.
I will be drawn to you, to rest in you
and to be filled again…
Until a new door opens, and your gentle inviting begins once more.*Psalm 139:5
God carried me from a desperate pit to an Impactful Faith! GO! Feed my sheep! Words from a Savior in the depths of my grief!
From that day forward—I have sought to be His presence in this hurting world—one beloved life and a time.
Friend, are you ready to join me? For it is loving Sheep—even the most unlovely—that we are most like Christ.