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I had just arrived at my favorite coffee shop. As I opened the door, the smell of freshly brewed java greeted me and filled my creative mind with possibilities. I was eager to get to work and excited that my warm, happy coffee-friend would come along with me for the ride. As I grabbed a cup from the counter and paid, I asked the barista how she was doing.
“I’m exhausted!” She lamented with a sigh.
I knew exactly how she felt.
I feel that way a lot!
I’m famous for trying to put ten pounds of living into a five-pound sack.
She was tired. Stressed. Drained. Over-committed. Under-rested. Exhausted.
Yep. I totally know that feeling.
Have you been there? Ha! Of course you have! It’s easy for us to rush into our days and get busy with life stuff, attempting to accomplish mountains of tasks and emotional situations in our own strength. We’re constantly pulled in a million directions, trying to juggle the slow, steady drain of complicated relationships, crazy schedules, and weighty challenges.
And in the midst of it all the simple truth is this: our exhaustion problems can’t be solved without God.
It’s comforting to recognize that we aren’t the first people to struggle with feelings like these.
All throughout Scripture people got worn-out and lamented about their tired souls.
David wrote countless Psalms about being weary, and Elijah was so exhausted at one point he sank into a deep depression and lost his God-courage. Jesus spoke to a crowd of people in Galilee one day about the only sure-fire solution to our exhaustion problem. Himself.
He said, “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 11:28-30, NIV)
The MESSAGE paraphrase of those same verses reads this way, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG)
When you keep company with Jesus you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Does that appeal to you? If so, then respond to His invitation.
Whether you have thirty seconds or thirty minutes, pause now to turn to Him.
Grab your prayer journal if you have one.
Center your heart on His splendor and approach Him with reverence.
While you’re in His presence, empty your exhaustion out before Him.
Tell Him the concerns on your heart and take a soul rest.
That day in the coffee shop, as I filled my cup I gave my exhausted, coffee-serving friend a smile and a knowing look. Then I spoke a word of hope to her heart and encouraged her to refuel in the secret place, the presence of God.
She smiled back and thanked me for the reminder. She loves the Lord, but – like all of us – she sometimes forgets that soul rest is available in the middle of the weary.
Keep company with Him today. All day long. As you do, you’ll experience His strength for each moment and His hope in each challenge. Let’s live freely and lightly in Jesus, girlfriend.
God my Strength,
You hold the rest that I need. Thank You for reminding me that I can always come to you and trade in my exhaustion for Your rejuvenation. Please restore my soul.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen
FOR YOUR REFLECTION and RESPONSE
Read and meditate on the words that Jesus spoke to His apostles when they were tired and weary one day, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31b, NIV) Now read it again and add your name to it.
RESPOND: Allow the music and lyrics of “Sacred Place” to lead you into God’s presence right now. Turn up the speakers on your computer and CLICK HERE to listen to the song on the wall of my blog as you center your heart, mind, and soul on the Holy One.
GIVEAWAY!
GIVEAWAY: Journal a one-sentence summary about the rest God offers you. Then tell me your one sentence summary! Leave it as a comment on my blog or send it to me as a DM on Instagram. I will be picking 3 random one-sentence-summaries to receive a FREE digital download of the songs from my My Strength, My Song album.
Tons of incredible new GRACEOLOGIE podcast episodes have just dropped that will help your soul find rest in meaningful and practical ways!
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He takes my burdens, my worries my fears and all my trying and gives me Himself: He is my rest!
Author
YESSSSS!!
An invitation to be comforted by the One who tenderly carries little lambs in His strong arms .
I have God’s peace in the midst of this Covid-19 chaos.
In God’s Sacred Place, I have the privilege to cast my cares and my worries on Him for He cares for me and be my ”Real” self with no mask. Praise God!!
Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burden and I will give you rest.
Peggy come to me when you are weary and burden and I will give you rest.
As I meditate on Psalm 91 especially during this pandemic, all fear and anxiety flees just knowing that I’m a child of the most High who is called, set apart, holy , loved and forgiven. Thank you Jesus for what you did for me at Calvary
God gives me rest in the midst of our world being in such upheaval. He’s teaching me thru the turmoil to rest in him….Thank you Jesus
be still and listen.
Wandering around the empty stores during what the world calls this crisis, I am acutely aware of the fact that I am not like those empty shelves, I am filled with Christ who brings me rest!
God offers rest to me when I die to self, take up my cross, and follow HIM…..
He grants me reprieve from my whirling fear filled thoughts today & says Lay the Fear at my feet and I will give you rest.
My go to: Be still and know that I am God!
He invites me into His presence and I say YES….He fills my humble heart with Hiself, I am full……
When I come to him and focus on what is good and true instead of what is wrong, he restores my soul.
Just telling my husband last night that my favorite time of every day is the quiet time I spend each morning in God’s Word and presence. Ahhhhhh
God gave me some time from work to just slow down, spend quality time with Him and rest in His presence. Thank you God.
A rest like I’ve not known, peace beyond comprehension!!
God gives me peace and rest that helps me place my focus on Him; then everything else falls into place.
God gives me peace to my soul which surpasses all my anxieties.