New Year Devotions

A Quiet Heart

I’ve always loved the way Eugene Peterson paraphrases Matthew 11:28–30. It reads almost like a holiday advert—or perhaps more accurately, a holy day invitation:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.
I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Last summer, we explored the beauty of Sabbath rest, but Jesus’ invitation is one we constantly need to hear again. Life presses against us from every angle—demands, expectations, responsibilities. Yet it is often the inner voice, with its relentless insistence to keep going, keep achieving, keep performing, that most deeply disturbs our equilibrium.

Chronic stress doesn’t just tire us emotionally; it affects us physically and spiritually as well. I found myself last year facing ultra-low energy, the result of stress-heightened cortisol levels and rising blood pressure. All of this cluttered my mind, clouded my ability to think calmly, and even muffled the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus invites us into another way. He doesn’t promise a problem-free life, but He offers a different posture—a gentler, lighter way of walking through our burdens. When we hand Him the weight we carry, He aligns us with rest, healing, and the healthiest possible outcomes. He teaches us, slowly and kindly, the “unforced rhythms of grace.”

Illustration

Imagine a small sailboat caught in a sudden burst of wind. The sailor, panicked, pulls tightly on the ropes, fighting the gusts with every muscle tensed. The boat jerks and tilts; the harder the sailor pulls, the more unstable the boat becomes.

Then a voice from a nearby boat calls out, “Loosen the sail!”

Reluctantly, the sailor lets the rope slip through their fingers. The sail adjusts, the boat steadies, and suddenly the wind that once felt threatening becomes the very force that carries the boat forward.

This is what rest in Jesus looks like: not fighting the storms in our own strength, but loosening our grip and allowing His grace to carry us.

Prayer

Gentle Lord, quiet our hearts today. In the rush of responsibilities and the noise of our inner pressures, teach us the unforced rhythms of Your grace. Lift the heavy burdens we cling to and help us loosen our grip, trusting that You hold us securely. Restore our energy, renew our minds, and calm our spirits so we may walk freely and lightly with You. Give us a quiet Sunday heart—at peace, at rest, and fully alive in Your presence. Amen.

Practice: Light a candle and pray simply: “I am yours.”