[Read Matthew 5:3-10 and Matthew 11:28-30]

We all have had times when we were just exhausted. Maybe it was a day of really hard, physical labor or a night of restless anxiety. Whether physical or mental we understand what it is to be weary, worn out, done in.  It seems like we have carried a heavy burden that only grows heavier the farther we tote it. It drains our energy, our spirit, and our joy.

And, hopefully, we have all had those times when we were relieved of our burden and offered respite and refreshment. To come home at the end of a hard day to sit in a comfortable chair with a refreshing drink and a loved one to share the day with is a joy. When we have fretted through the night and then in the morning we have found that our worst fears were not realized and that things are going to…