Labor Day
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Labor Day offers a welcome break from our work. For many, it’s a chance to sleep in, take a walk, or enjoy time with loved ones. We’re often told to “unplug,” “decompress,” or “practice self-care.” And while these are helpful, they only scratch the surface. True rest—the kind that reaches into the soul—can’t be found in a hammock or a weekend off. It can only be found in Jesus.
When Jesus says, “Come to Me,” He isn’t just inviting the physically tired. He speaks to those weary under burdens deeper than sore muscles. He addresses those weighed down by guilt, anxiety, expectation, shame, and sin. And His promise is stunning: “I will give you rest.”
Not “I’ll show you how to earn it,” or “I’ll help you work for it,” but “I will give it.” This is the rest that only the Savior can offer. Because He has borne the burden of our sin, we are free. Because He has finished the work of salvation on the cross, we are invited into peace that doesn’t depend on our performance.
Jesus did the heavy lifting of redemption. He toiled in the garden of Gethsemane. He labored under the weight of the cross. He suffered for our failures and rose for our justification. That means we no longer need to strive to earn God’s favor—it is already ours in Christ.
This rest is for the anxious heart, the perfectionist spirit, the guilt-ridden conscience. It’s for you. Jesus doesn’t demand that you pull yourself together—He calls you to Himself. He invites you to lay it all down at His feet and find refreshment in His grace.
So as you rest today—whether briefly or deeply—remember where true rest is found. Not in a nap or a day off, but in the Savior who says, “Come.”
Lord Jesus, I am weary. Not just from the work of my hands, but from the weight in my heart. Thank You for inviting me to lay my burdens on You. Teach me to rest in Your grace and find peace in Your promises. Amen.