Need Rest? Finding It May Look Different for Men and Women

First, rest doesn’t necessarily mean “taking time off”

Before I get to the differences, here’s the main point that applies to everybody. When Jesus promises rest, he doesn’t use the language of “take time off” or “just slow down.” Downtime is valuable (after all, God decreed a Sabbath and Jesus sought out quiet time!), but his words offer a model that applies even when we can’t take time away.

In Matthew 11:28-30, He says, “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.”

That’s startling language! A yoke is designed to help a burden beast plow the field in the heat of the day. Jesus doesn’t say, “Take the yoke off your shoulders and go back to the barn to find rest.” No, he is saying that we can be about the work of the day and still find rest for our souls. We can be busy, but we don’t have to be weary and stressed. We can have much on our shoulders, but we don’t have to be burdened.

So how might this apply differently to women and men?