Savannah

Matthew 11:28-30

"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 at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I just returned home from my 3rd summer with a youth misions organization called Youthworks.  I spent my summer serving in Savannah, GA.  A normal week for us consists of 70 youth from all over the country converging in Savannah and serving in a variety of different ways.  These youth are in either middle or high school and they come for a week at a time.  We painted homes in Savannah as well as volunteered at about 6 different urban ministries.  

My team of three other college age students chose Matthew 11:28-30 as our verse for the summer.  I was amazed how this verse had daily meaning for me and also for my staff.  It is amazing how often we try to handle everything on our own and carry all the events of our day right on our own shoulders.  About midway through the summer I was worn out completely from our daily schedule and also just from situations that would come forward and I would try to handle completely on my own.   I was challenged half way through the summer to remember the verse our staff had chosen and apply it in my life.  It was amazing how God lifted the daily things that I struggled with off of my shoulders.  

I imagined that letting go and letting God take care of these things meant I wasn't doing my job.  If I let go of things I must be letting things slip by and not fully caring for others needs.  I came to realize that it just wasn't the case.  I realized that I can handle things that come by doing the best I possibly can with them.  I also realized that I don't however have to let those things consume me.  God is asking me to do my best and then let Him worry about the rest.  God only is asking for my best and to leave the worrying to Him!