Sometimes when I listen to “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2, the refrain is an earworm that lingers in my mind for the rest of the day.
I’ve got another earworm for you, another song that can stay with me for hours, but I daresay it has a much more positive message:
“Come unto me, you who labour, and I will give you rest.”
Halfway through my relatively brief but life-changing tenure working at a Christian radio station from 1982 to 1984, I encountered an album called Pass It On by an amazing singer-songwriter and guitarist Bryan Haworth, and I was especially drawn in by a magnetic song with an irresistible guitar hook called “Peace and Understanding.”
Peace and understanding
Is what He gave to me
When I put my burden on Him
Then He set my mind at ease.
Peace and understanding
Is what He gives to those
Who take all their burdens to Him
Then in faith let go.
The song is a very tasty and hypnotic five-and-a-half-minute riff on Matthew 11: 28-30 — “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Stress and tension is choking your life
God is waiting to change you inside
And bring peace and understanding
right now.
Come unto Me you who labour
And I will give you rest….
Every so often over the past 42 years, this song rises in my consciousness, especially recently as I’ve added it to a contemporary Christian music playlist in my Apple Music account (and exactly the moment I typed those words, guess what song started up on my CCM playlist. Praise God from whom all blessings flow).
Almost inevitably for the rest of the day, I will randomly start humming “Peace —and Understanding — is what He gave — to me” or, of course, “Come unto Me you who labour and I will give you rest.” The powerful words always wash over me and give me, well, peace and understanding, but the music adds an extra bounce to my step.
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