Do you hear Christ’s gentle whisper?

The self is such a heavy burden to carry! To live according to the voice of your deceitful heart is overwhelming. It is absolutely tiring and peace is nowhere to be found. The voice of self is demanding and convincing- it speaks to us in loud tones and tells us that we need to fight for our rights, our wants, and ultimately for us. It is constantly working to satisfy itself yet never finding fulfillment. It promises everything but never keeps its word- it can’t. Pride, jealousy, anger, resentment, are all marks of the self that hides inside every human being- that part of us that is never satisfied because true satisfaction is not in chasing after worldly pursuits but in seeking after the eternal. Christ invites every one of us to a higher way of life if we but have the ears to hear. I’m sure you’ve heard His whisper but have you ever obeyed it? You know, that voice within that speaks to us of gentleness and humility. If only we would listen to its whisper! In obeying it we would find the greatest reward- rest for our weary souls. But no, the flesh fights very hard against it because the whisper of God is the opposite of everything we want. I used to hear the heavenly whisper but was so unaware of the hidden blessedness it possesses. When I was mistreated, it told me to let go of my rights and to trust that God was my just defender. When I felt the urge to promote myself, it told me to choose the harder path of hidden sacrifice by embracing humility instead of pride. And when I wanted something that was out of my reach or even impossible to achieve, it told me to choose to rejoice in the season I was in and to submit to God’s timing. God’s greatest desire for us is to learn to carry a different kind of burden- His yoke- which is easy and light, the exact opposite to the heavy burden of self. I used to find it so hard to trace the hand of God in those areas of my life where everything seemed to be out of my control. Often, there were places of desperation, want, and even suffering; but they were the very places were God was most free to work and mold my will until it united with His. In many of our lives, the gentle whisper of Christ is present in the places where we least expect it. It is ever encouraging us to choose the higher path of self-sacrifice, forgiveness, humility, gentleness, and everything beautiful and eternal. If only we had the eyes to see how beautiful His yoke is and how blessed we are to be given the privilege of finding freedom from the burden of self! Seek His will in all things and He will guide you unto the higher path where you will find rest for your weary soul.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV