At that time Yeshua declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
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 your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30)
As of late the days have had me yearning for ample time to rest in the easy yoke Yeshua mentioned in these verses. Like the flowering bush pictured, where the heavy summer rains drenched its tender stalks and they could bear no more weight, we don’t try to take on a heavy load it is just how life comes. During such times we must never forget to count the small blessings. They are in plain sight, we simply need to seek them out and take them into our hearts.
One instance I hold onto often occurred on December 13, 2023: As part of my job, I delivered a proposal I had written to a mountain town in Western North Carolina. To know me is to know how much this made my day. I will never pass up an opportunity to drive through the mountains. As I ventured out, I plugged in some worship music and began to sing and pray. It had only been a couple of weeks since I’d made another trip to North Carolina – the trip to the coast to spread my mother’s remains. That drive, and the purpose of it, were still wearing a bit on my heart and soul. As the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) often does when I’m on a long drive, He took advantage of having me alone. Where the drive to the coast weeks prior was used to clean my heart out of pain, the drive on that day was used to fill it back up with His love and divine presence.
During the four-hour trek, I was blessed to feel His tender arms holding my own; His power and love abounded all around me. Abba’s holy presence filled the car along with my entire being, and his joy was everpresent. I asked that He tangibly speak our private language. By the time I reached my destination, I was walking on air. And, when I was about 30 minutes from reaching the office He stopped me in my tracks: two deer were before me. One jumped across the narrow road. The second deer stood still on the side of the road, watching me as I stopped to allow it to cross. It stayed there looking at me until another car came from the opposite direction.
The company I work for won the bid for that job. I believe that was Him. (It happened to be the first proposal I had put together without help from a teammate.)
I lost count of how many times I said “thank you” that day…for His presence, love, and simply hearing me. Many other small moments over the past several months have had me thanking my Father, and counting blessings, small and large. Things like an answered prayer on the cost of a hefty SUV repair; praying for co-workers then finding out that I have a boss who covers me in prayer. Finding needed rest on Shabbat, and finally finding a fellowship family. Oh, and the joy, the blessing, of having a little time off from work on a Friday to sit down and share what has been on my heart for months, is probably the best blessing after a tiring, frustrating day! (That is the thought of the moment, of today.)
So, brethren, I send you shalom and leave you with this: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:28-29)
P.S. When I was young in my walk with Adonai, the Spirit led me to these passages in Jeremiah 17, which continually brings me peace and strengthens my resolve. I hope you find something in here too:
Thus says Adonai:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
and depends on flesh as his arm,
and whose heart turns from Adonai.
6 For he will be like a bush in the desert.
He cannot see goodness when it comes,
but will dwell in parched places in the wilderness—
a salt land where no one lives.
7 Blessed is the one who trusts in Adonai,
whose confidence is in Adonai.
8 For he will be like a tree planted by the waters,
spreading out its roots by a stream.
It has no fear when heat comes,
but its leaves will be green.
It does not worry in a year of drought,
nor depart from yielding fruit.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,
and incurable—who can know it?
10 I Adonai search the heart,
I try the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.
11 As a partridge that broods over young that she did not lay,
so is one who gets wealth, unjustly.
In the middle of his days it will abandon him,
so at his end he will be a fool.[a]
12 Throne of glory on high from the beginning!
Place of our sanctuary,
13 Adonai, You are the hope of Israel!
All who forsake You will be ashamed.
Those who depart from You
will be written in the dirt,
for they have forsaken Adonai,
the fountain of living waters.
14 Heal me, Adonai, and I will be healed.
Save me, and I will be saved.
For You are my praise.
Echoes of Psalm Chapter 1…..especially verse 3.
Beautiful