Can we find true rest in Jesus? Mark Hillis thinks so! Learn how we can find new life in Jesus.
A Strongman
Have you ever watched a Strongman competition? It’s impressive to see people who have trained their bodies to lift, pull, and push tremendous weight. Some of the feats are almost unbelievable; pulling multi‑ton trucks and planes, breaking chains, bending horseshoes, even rolling up frying pans.
But as entertaining as it is to watch raw strength on display, some of these stunts are dangerous. Bodies pushed that far can suffer burst blood vessels, crippling injuries, or long-term damage.
It’s a reminder that even the strongest among us have limits; physically, mentally, and emotionally. Continually lifting and carrying heavy loads will eventually harm us. We need to recognize our limits.
Designed With Limits in Mind
God designed us with those limits in mind. He built rest into our lives: sleep to restore us, food to strengthen us, water to refresh us. We need days outside of the regular grind to stop, and rest. We were not created to bear continual strain. Why? Because God intended us to depend on Him; to come to Him as our help and strength. He can bear the heavy loads that are crushing us.
When Jesus said,
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest,” Matthew 11:28
He meant exactly that.
Jesus is the Strongman We Need
Jesus is the strongman we truly need. Because He is God, He can take any load you feel slipping from your hands; a family crisis, a marriage on the brink, a stressful job, the fear of unemployment, a diagnosis that feels unbearable. Jesus may not remove the burden, but He will help you carry it.
But there is a deeper burden; one many people never face. It sits at the core of who we are: our standing before God. It shows up in quiet questions about whether we’re good enough, whether we’ve met the standard, whether we’ll measure up in the end. We often push those thoughts aside, but they remain. That inner weight is spiritual, and it’s real.
Do you feel it; that nagging pressure to be good enough for others, for yourself, for God? How can anyone know if they’ve done enough? Does God accept everyone? How would you ever know?
God’s Way, Not Ours
There is an answer, but the hardest part is accepting it; because it’s God’s way, not ours.
Can you admit you need help? Can you acknowledge you’re not perfect? Can you confess that you are a sinner in need of God’s forgiveness?
This is the heaviest burden of all; one no human being can carry. It’s too much. It leads only to hopelessness.
God knows this. And in the strength of His perfect love He says, “Come to Me. I’m your help. Aren’t you tired of striving to be something you can never be without Me? I will give rest to your weary soul.”
Why Jesus Died on the Cross
This is why Jesus died on the cross. He paid the price for your sin. He bore the weight you could never lift. Like a strongman taking on the impossible, He carried the burden of the world’s sin; and it cost Him His life, to save us from a lost eternity. But He rose again in victory, offering new life to all who trust in Him.
I know this may be hard to accept. Our world celebrates self-sufficiency; lifting your own weight, proving your own strength. But eventually, it breaks us. We weren’t built for that. We need God’s help, and He has provided it in Jesus Christ.
Many people accuse believers of using God or Jesus as a crutch; a way to cope with fears, uncertainties, and the burdens of life. What they don’t realize is that trusting in Jesus isn’t weakness at all, but the source of true strength and assurance. It’s also humbling to realize that Jesus died for us, and that nothing is required on our part except to receive Him and begin living a new life in Him.
True Rest in Jesus
New life in Jesus means having a relationship with your Creator; the God who knows your shortcomings, failures, and weaknesses. It means experiencing the relief of having the soul crushing burden lifted: the pressure of trying to earn peace and approval with God. True rest comes from realizing that His favor isn’t gained by your effort but received as a gift through the salvation He accomplished for you.
Jesus bore the weight of the whole world; that’s something no strongman has ever done. The bible says in 1 Peter 2:24,
He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By His wounds you are healed. I Peter 2:24
Accept His invitation to come to Him today.
Reflect:
- What heavy burden or pressure are you trying to carry on your own today?
- How can you hand that load over to Jesus and accept His gift of rest right now?
If you would like to talk with someone about beginning a relationship with Jesus, or if you would appreciate prayer as you walk through your own journey, please reach out to us below. We would be glad to connect with you.
Have you found true rest in Jesus? We would to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
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