Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. –Matthew 11:28
Starfish have a unique capability. If a starfish should lose a limb, it can re-grow a new one. This is called regeneration. The process can take years, but when it is complete, you would probably not be able to tell that the starfish had ever been damaged.
In our lives, many of us have been damaged. We limp around with burdens from the past. The battles of life have torn at our resolve and stolen bits of our joy, leaving us bruised and crippled. It is easy to do the quick fix and “band aid” our pain or mask the hurt. But underneath the façade lies a bleeding wound that over time will continue to fester until it is laid before the Great Healer.
It can take years for the limb of a starfish to regenerate until it is whole again. However, if you take the starfish away from its source of life, the ocean, not only will it never heal, but it will ultimately die. The same is true with you.
Our source of life is Jesus, and He wants to heal you. Many of us go through life with burdens weighing heavily on our shoulders. Whether it is the weight of sin, regret, oppression, persecution, abuse, sorrow, divorce, unfaithfulness, fear, unforgiveness, betrayal, regret…Jesus says, “Come to me.” He wants to come alongside you and heal you. He wants to take the band aids off and properly clean your wounds.
If you want to be healed and set free from the burdens that weigh you down, call out to Jesus. It will take time and it may not be easy, but if you keep yourself surrounded by Jesus, the source of life, ultimately you will be healed. And when you are healed, you will experience the love, peace, and hope only Jesus can bring.
GOING DEEPER:
1. What areas in your life need healing?
2. How can you give your burdens and cares to Jesus and rest in His promise?
FURTHER READING:
Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 9:2-13; 1 John 5:1-5