Numbers and Levels and Quotas, Oh My!

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

How does what we measure in our life influence how we measure our life?

Numbers, levels, quotas, and deadlines preoccupy our lives. Is your weight too high? Is your cholesterol level too high or calcium to low? Is the money in the bank for the first of the month? Is your salary what you desire? Do the reports state you should be doing more? Are you aiming to pass that high-stake test and focused on a specific number? Are your days too short and weeks too long? How much more is required or how much less is acknowledged? Each of these revolve around numbers yet are just a unit of measurement.

Ask any of my students and they will tell you numbers are exhausting and sometimes very stressful. When we focus on the numbers, although essential, they should not be defining or consuming our lives. Jesus stated, “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 11:28-30 NIV

That verse sounds easy but it first starts with going to Him. He has actually directed us to ‘come to’ Him. He isn’t just talking to a select number of people, He is talking to anyone who is weary and burdened. You may be weary from striving to get things done in the course of your day or burdened with thoughts of fruitless worry and concern because you cannot change your circumstance as quickly as you would like. Do you know anyone NOT weary or burdened? So ultimately he is speaking of everyone. He promises us by going to Him, He will give us rest. (While typing this and making sure I had a capital “H” for the word him and he, it became evident it is only by first approaching Him that then through Him we find this rest.) He will provide the rest for our souls that nothing else will provide.

Although numbers in our lives will always be there as benchmarks, it is only by Him and through Him we can go through life in a restful manner. It is not easy to master something when we are first learning, yet this verse states we will learn from Him. Although it won't always be easy to go to Him and rest, we have to remember we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

All of us like to be invited to things. This is an invitation from Christ. He is inviting us to “come” and “find rest" yet because He is gentle and humble, He has offered the invitation but now it is up to each of us to show up daily. Go to Him with everything you have to actually find the rest that only He can give you.