A Soft Place to Land

My daughter was telling me about her favorite thing to do during autumn.  She says she loves to gather up leaves on the lawn, form a big pile, and the jump in it.  She loves to fall back onto the leaves, knowing that she'll have a soft place to land on.  Sounds like a lot of fun too.

I thought about it for a bit.... a soft place to land on sounds really nice.  So many times I have felt like just falling back and landing on something comfy.  So many times I've felt like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.  And the burdens seems to increase, while my strength seems to diminish.  And I grow tired and weary.  

My friend could really use a soft place to land. She's constantly meeting the needs of others.  She seldom voices personal demands.  But instead, speaks up for others.  She doesn't like being in the "spotlight" of things, but loves to build others up.  And I often wonder, "Who's there for her?" I often wonder if she's feeling tired and alone.  And where does she go to rest?  Where does she go to her soft landing?  Maybe she knows something I don't know.

I love finding comforting words in the Bible.  I love when I read something that speaks directly to the heart.  And I love when God's words come in the form of a very soft place to land on.  Like in the book of  Matthew, chapter 11 when Jesus offers an invitation.  He invites anyone who is tired and weary to come to Him because He will provide rest.  Rest for the soul.  Not only does He acknowledge that we are burdened.  Not only does He know that we will face things that will make us feel weary.  Not only does He empathize with us, but He offers a  an invitation to receive rest.  He doesn't lecture.  He doesn't advise us on how we should balance our responsibilities and how we should change our "eating" habits.  He simply offers a solution.  He offers a place to come and lay down our burdens.  A place to rest, a big pile of leaves, sort of speak, to be able to fall back on. 

This is the love of our God.  A love so strong and vast, yet so comforting that it provides soft landing.  Maybe this is where my friend goes to for rest.

Now, like with all invitations, we must make a choice to accept or decline.  I pray we see and acknowledge the value in this most valuable invitation.  And may we jump right in!

Matthew 11:28-30