Jesus said: "Come to me, all who labour 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" (Mt. 11:28-29).

The Greek word "tapeinos" translated "lowly" here simple means "low-lying". In the New Testament it is always used in a good sense to describe humility: being humble in spirit, being of humble status in society, living in humble circumstances, being humble as opposed to proud: "He has scattered those who are proud … but has lifted up the humble [Mary and Elizabeth]" (Lk. 1:51-52), etc. How do we develop humility? By humbling ourselves whenever we should. God says: "I dwell in the high and lofty place and also with the one who is of a contrite and lowly spirit" (Isa. 57:15). What a staggeringly amazing statement!

The way this word is used throughout the Greek version of the whole Bible provides a clear picture of accessibility. "For all his resplendent glory and dazzling holiness, his supreme uniqueness and otherness, no one in human history has ever been more approachable than Jesus Christ. No prerequisites. No hoops to jump through" (Dane Ortlund). The Son of God became a man to make himself accessible; to contain God's holiness in such a way so as not to destroy us.

There is no need to get yourself all sorted before coming to Jesus. He invites you to come to him just as you are. All you need to be is hungry and thirsty for him and tired, worn out and burned up by life. Your very burden, and your recognition of being in need, is what qualifies you to come. All you need to do is to open your heart to him. So whether you are actively working hard to crowbar your life into order or passively finding yourself weighed down by things you cannot control, Jesus invites you to come to him. He will give you rest as a gift.