I am a self-confessed people watcher. I’ve always wondered where people are going, what people are thinking, what work they do; you get the drift. So there was this one time when I sat on the stairs leading to the Westfield Shopping Centre, turned round, faced the Stratford bus station, and just watched people go by. There was the chap running for a bus, a young woman yelling at a toddler with too adventurous a spirit, a woman behind a “Jesus is Lord” cart, a handful of hijabis, and a myriad others, coming and going. 

Some of the people I saw looked happy, some looked sad, and some looked lost. London can be a tough place to live in sometimes. As I watched the hustle and bustle below me, the scene reminded me of Jesus observing the people of Jerusalem as they went to and fro. And if you’re familiar with the Bible, you’d remember how Matthew describes Jesus’ sentiment towards the crowd: “… he had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless.” He’d probably say the same thing about the crowd I’m watching – low paid, exorbitant rents in mold-infested, overcrowded rooms, poor health, and deep uncertainty about the future. 

If you’ve read this far and wonder what your future holds, please read on a bit more. God does have a plan for your life. That may sound trite; you may have heard it before, but it is true. God sees you, and he knows you. Besides, your situation is not unique. One time in the Bible, Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them, “Do not worry.” He assures them God will provide and that they are precious in God’s eyes. You can read this in Luke 12:22-28. It is an assuring read. 

I was once part of that harassed and helpless crowd, underpaid, couch surfing, and enduring freezing temperatures at work. I did think I’d never break free of whatever held me down, but God was true to his word. It seemed to me in those dark days that God was far away or simply did not care. But he did care. He edited my story, and the rest is history. So, if you need some respite from the drudgery of life and all its uncertainties, Jesus offers you rest. This is how he puts it: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” You’ll find this promise in Matthew 11:28-29. So, slow down and breathe; God’s got this.