Finding Rest. Matthew 11:28

Frank Wible
Jul 7
2 min read

Brian was everyone’s rock. At 42, he ran a successful HVAC business, led the men’s ministry at church, and coached his son’s baseball team. On the outside, people called him strong. Inside, he felt like he was drowning.

Frank Wible Man in gray shirt kneels by an air conditioning unit, using a wrench. A white truck is in the background. He appears focused and determined. — *Brian carried burdens no one saw—until it almost broke him.*

Every night after his family went to sleep, he lay awake staring at the ceiling fan, calculating invoices, worrying about late-paying clients, wondering if the guys he hired would show up tomorrow. His chest tightened with every thought. Some nights, he crept to the bathroom, shut the door, and sat on the floor shaking with silent panic attacks.

One morning, exhausted from another sleepless night, he sat on the back porch watching the sun rise. Birds chirped in nearby trees as he scrolled his Bible app, desperate for something—anything—to hold onto. His eyes landed on Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Tears streamed down his face. Rest. The word felt foreign. For years, he believed slowing down was weakness. But here was Jesus, offering him something his work ethic never could: peace.

Frank Wible Man in a gray t-shirt rests his head on the steering wheel of a white truck at sunset, appearing contemplative and somber. — Finding rest wasn’t escaping the burden—it was giving it to God.

That day, he left for work ten minutes early and parked outside the job site. Instead of checking emails, he bowed his head against the steering wheel and whispered, “Jesus, I can’t do this alone anymore. I need Your rest.”

The problems didn’t vanish overnight. Clients still paid late. Jobs still ran behind. But something shifted. Each morning, before starting his day, he prayed, “Lord, these burdens are too heavy for me. I give them to You.” Peace grew stronger than fear.

Weeks later, his wife noticed he laughed more at dinner. His son noticed he stayed after practice to play catch. His pastor noticed he worshipped with hands lifted, eyes closed, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Today, Brian still works hard. But he knows his worth isn’t tied to what he accomplishes. Finding rest became more than slowing down—it became laying everything down at the feet of the One strong enough to carry it all.

What burden do you most need to lay down today?