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Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST
Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
The young man walked slowly down the street, his mind clouded with regret.
He had lost his chance.
His friend, the one he’d always meant to talk to about Jesus, had passed away suddenly.
The weight of guilt hung heavy on his heart—if only he had shared the love of Christ.
Now, it was too late.
This young man’s heartache was a burden too great for him to bear alone.
Yet, in that moment of deepest sorrow, Jesus was there.
He hadn’t turned His back on the young man’s regret but instead, Jesus—full of compassion—whispered, “Come to Me. I will give you rest.”
Jesus calls to us, even in our heaviest moments, offering a release from guilt and burdens we’ve been carrying far too long.
Whether it’s the burden of sin, shame, missed opportunities, or regret, Jesus offers to carry it for us.
The compassion of Christ is so great that He does not wait for us to “fix” our lives before coming to Him.
He simply says, “Come.”
How often do we carry the heavy weight of guilt or regret, like the young man who was burdened with not sharing the Gospel in time?
We live in a world full of missed opportunities, sins, and mistakes that can easily trap us in a cycle of shame.
But Jesus is not waiting for us to get our lives in perfect order before we come to Him.
He’s not expecting us to fix ourselves.
Instead, Jesus stands ready, His arms open wide, inviting us to release the weight of our burdens into His hands.
He says, “Come to me,” because He knows we can’t carry these loads alone.
The weight of our sins and regrets is not something we were designed to bear.
Just as in the biblical illustration, Jesus’ compassion is limitless.
Whether you’re standing on the edge of eternity, filled with guilt or fear, or simply struggling with the everyday weight of life, Jesus is ready to take those burdens from you and replace them with peace.
Imagine walking down a long, difficult road with a heavy backpack filled with stones.
Each stone represents something you’re carrying—perhaps a regret, a sin, or a missed opportunity that weighs heavily on your heart.
As you walk, your steps become slower, and your back aches under the weight of the bag.
Suddenly, you see Jesus standing at the side of the road.
He reaches out to you and says, “Let me take that from you. You don’t have to carry it anymore.”
Jesus doesn’t force you to hand over the backpack.
He waits patiently for you to decide.
The moment you release it to Him, the weight lifts, and you’re able to walk freely again.
That’s the compassion of Christ—He’s always there, ready to help, but He waits for us to come to Him and surrender our burdens.
PRAYER
Lord, I come before You today, heavy-laden with the burdens of my mistakes, regrets, and sins. I confess that I cannot carry them any longer. Please help me to lay them at Your feet, trusting in Your love and compassion. I believe in Your promise of rest, and I surrender my burdens to You now. Take them from me, and replace my guilt with peace. Help me to walk in freedom and to experience the rest that only You can give. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
ASSIGNMENT
Take some time today to write a personal prayer of surrender.
Be specific about the burdens you are carrying—whether they are regrets from the past, sins you haven’t let go of, or missed opportunities that weigh on your heart.
Write them down, and then, in prayer, hand them over to Jesus.
He is ready and willing to take them from you.
Let Him give you the rest and peace He promises.
WEDNESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Sandra Graham—Nearing Her Homecoming With The Savior
James Parker
Danny Jarrard
Donna Plunkett’s Brother in law
Angela Bryan’s Sister
Amy Garner’s Mom
Daniel Cooper’s Mother
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Ed Mays
Ellen Boyd
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Faith Burnette
Freddie May’s Mom
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gail Sparks
George & Linda Alexander
George Calhoon
James Burnette
James Burnette
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
John McClain’s Mother
June Cronan’s Sister
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kathryn Raines
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher
Larry Barker
Lee Cronan
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary William’s Granddaughter
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Nora Allison
Pastor Driskell
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Sandra Graham
Sarah Parker
Scott Lanier
Steve Michaels
Tom Graham (Sandra’s Husband)
Tom Witcher