Ever been so tired you can’t hold your head up? I remember the early months of feeding my newborn baby through the night. “I can’t do this anymore,” I remember crying to my husband. “I can’t even lift my arms to hold him.” Fatigue is tough.
I’m also quite tired right now, after a big week. But, even more than sleep, I long for the sweet presence of my God. I long for the unmistakeable peace that will help me rest well. I find these words from Jesus such a comfort tonight:
“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.” (Matthew 11:28)
Pastor Jim Shaddix describes the yoke as “the instrument used to bring the strength of two animals together in order to pull a load that was impossible for one animal to pull on its own.” He comments that Jesus was speaking to a group of people who’d been trying to carry an impossible load – namely the Jewish law and other standards imposed upon them by the religious leaders of the day. In the language of the New Testament, the words carried the idea of working to the point of utter exhaustion.”
What are you exhausted from? What burdens have you attempted to carry on your own? Let God help you pull the load. I know I need to. He will aid us in our “utter exhaustion” and show us the easier way. The lighter load. The one filled with peace and grace, promise and purpose. He will set us free and lift up our heads.
“But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear…” (Psalm 3:3-6)
It's a God thing... 
It is so good to be reminded! Sometimes in all of our busy-ness, we try to do it all on our own and forget that we have Divine Helper. I needed to hear this today.
I’m glad Sharon. Yes, I need reminding daily it seems 🙂 Thanks for stopping by… Be blessed as you rest in Him today.
“What burdens have you attempted to carry on your own?” An excellent question for this morning:). Thanks.
Thanks Judy. May you and I find the freedom of ‘handing over the reins’ today 🙂
I hope you rested well in Him, and awoke refreshed and renewed, Spirit, mind and body.
Thank you Patti! I did rest well actually, and the day has been a blessing in so many ways. God is good!
Grieving over a friend who was never really my friend at all. So many people have asked why it took me so long to see it. I tell them I believed God could change her heart. The one time I could not support her, she abandoned our relationship. I don’t want to save the non-friendship anymore but it weighs heavily on my heart. Sandy
That sounds really hard Sandy. Praying that God would be your strongest source of comfort and strength as you grieve the loss and allow him to lead you to more healthy, balanced relationships. Thanks for dropping by and sharing. Ali
This was so good, Ali. God keeps talking to me about stress . ..the pressure I create when I try to do life on my own. I don’t mean to, but it happens .. .a lot! Thank you and God bless you for the way you minister to us right where we need it!
Thank you Debbie! I think we all need constant reminders 🙂 Praying we would daily rest in His unbeatable enabling and power. Blessings to you Debbie and thanks for reading.
When we are tired, it’s harder to see God’s presence in our lives. I really like the Psalm scripture!
It’s a good reminder of where our rest and peace lies isn’t it 🙂
You have such a gift with words! 🙂 Thanks for a wonderful post!
And thank you for making my day with your lovely comment! 🙂 Hope you’re having a great day as you rest in Him.