When ‘Come to Me’ Means We Don’t Go Alone

Matthew 11:28-30 tells us that Jesus said, “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.”

I’ve read this verse for years and always taken comfort in it. I always thought it meant one on one. That I should go to Him when I’m stressed or worried. 

And it does, but it also means so much more.

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Prayer Time

This week I was very concerned for one of my children and was praying feverishly. I was working out at the Y while I prayed. 

As I left, I felt God telling me to pray with one of the chaplains. I told God, “no,” and continued walking to my car. God turned me around! I literally could not walk to my car. So I went back in. There were a few chaplains who were talking at a table, so I waited for them to be done. 

I asked one of the women if she would pray with me for my son. She invited the others to pray with us. We held hands and began. And wow. They stormed the gates of heaven with their heartfelt prayers. Not only did they pray for my sweet son, they prayed for me. 

I left with an incredible sense of peace. 

Later…

Later I was watching The Chosen. It was Season 3, Episode 8 “Sustenance” where Jesus invites Simon to walk on the water with Him. He reminds Simon that he only needs to go to Him with his concerns. 

I immediately thought about my morning prayer session at the Y. I realized that “come to me” isn’t about me doing things on my own. It doesn’t only mean praying by myself. 

Strength in Weakness

Sometimes “come to me” means being vulnerable enough to invite others to go to the Lord with us. It means letting down our guard to share our burden with others and letting them carry us to the cross. 

Much like the friends carried the crippled man to where Jesus was, and took apart the roof to lower him to Jesus for healing (Luke 5:19), sometimes we need others to bring us to Jesus. 

Historically I’ve not been a fan of being vulnerable. I’ve seen it as a sign of weakness. I saw it as a threat to my absurdly high standards of perfection. 

But counseling is showing me that it’s actually being vulnerable, opening a door in my walls, that makes me strong. Admitting my weakness makes me God-strong. 

Scripture says that when we are weak we are giving God the chance to be strong in us. That’s what being vulnerable does. It allows us to let God be strong while we go to Him with our weakness. 

When we allow others to carry us to the cross, we are opening up to healing and peace we never expected could happen. 

Come to Me

So when Jesus tells us to go to Him, He means alone in prayer. But He also means to bring other hurting souls to Him on their behalf. It means sharing our hearts enough to allow others to care for us and take us to Him. 

This is a type of community that I never imagined. But I’m so glad I found it.

With love,

🌸 Andrea

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