Jayne Whyte's Portfolio

Yesterday evening, I went to the Vigil Mass at my local church in Sheffield. As I sat there, my eyes drifted to the altar, where a powerful Bible verse was boldly written: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). It hit me hard — right then, I felt like that verse was meant for me. It spoke to me directly. Like when you say “it hit the bull’s eye” or “hit the nail on the head”. The words were designed for me and I received it.

I mean, here I was, bundled up in my heavy winter jacket (which already feels like a burden in itself!), carrying the weight of a thousand things on my mind. Decisions about my career, worries about my family, health issues that had me feeling run down — the list went on. Last week was especially tough; I even had a night where I could not sleep, my mind racing through every worry and “what-if.” I needed some form of clarity but all I could see were clouds.

Standing there in front of the altar, I just wanted to drop it all. I was ready to surrender, even if it meant giving up that big, heavy coat too! So I whispered a little prayer, hoping that somehow I could let it all go.

And then, this morning, something amazing happened. A tiny voice inside nudged me to check online for some info about a big decision I’d been stressing over. And when I did, things started to make sense — like a light switched on. I felt a little lighter, more at peace, as if I’d finally handed it over.

That verse from Matthew is inspiring. Jesus is not just telling us to come to Him for rest; He’s saying, “Let’s tackle this together. I’ll walk with you.” His “yoke” is not about adding to our burdens, but about giving us a way to carry them without feeling crushed. In a world that pushes us to keep going and going, it’s kind of revolutionary to hear Him say, “Rest. I have got this.”

For me, it was a reminder that I don’t have to do this on my own. There’s a gentler, kinder way to navigate life, and I can finally stop running on empty. Jesus offers us something we all need — peace and strength that no amount of striving can give.

Cheers!