Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11:28
I have never been this tired in my life.
I have lived through finals weeks and pulled all-nighters. I’ve had months of sleepless nights on end with little babies (five of them). I’ve worried myself sick about my family members’ health. But, I have never been this tired. Maybe I’m just getting old, or I don’t remember. But, I will say this: I cried when I read the words I wrote about rest when I got this month’s Dwell card in the mail. I actually sat down and cried. I needed those words. And yes, you heard it right, I wrote them. A few months ago. When life was a little less chaotic. What the what?
I can tell you one concept that I’ve had mercifully jammed into my head during this season of complete upheaval: I am not a superhero. I’m not all-sufficient. I’m not killing it, or a boss. I’m not “all that” and a bag of chips. I’m just a person. And, my bootstraps are all broke, my giddy has lost it’s up, and I cannot “do it all”. I need help, and grace, and rest… so very badly right now.
I love my job writing for Dwell because God is real, and he proves it to me all the time. We picked our verses for the year way back in December, 2108. But, as the months roll around, each verse specifically speaks to my needs and my situation as if I picked it especially for me, knowing prophetically what I would need. So, I find that this month I'm not reflecting back on a particular time of weariness, but instead I'm in the midst of desperately, daily seeking rest. Each word I write about rest is me preaching to myself about coming to Jesus and laying down MY own burdens. But, I suspect that I’m not the only one who needs to hear this message.
I wonder if there aren’t others out there, just like me, who desperately need the rest of Jesus right now. Like, RIGHT now. If you do, just please shut off whatever device you are on and pray. It doesn’t have to be anything grand. Just tell Jesus that you need him. Take him up on his offer of rest. Give up your burdens and weariness to him. His invitation is always open.
- Natalie Abbott
What makes you weary?
What are your burdens?
Are you willing to come to Jesus for rest?
