I don’t think a hot stone massage or a Calgon bubble bath could begin to ease this exhaustion. A deep, intense, two-day sleep, or a rest in a hammock on a secluded island with a half a jar of peanut butter, a couple of coconuts and a chocolate bar nearby… hmmm maybe.
I’m tee-totally physically and mentally drained. It’s one of those days where I find myself surrounded by the not so elegant scents and sights of two forever growing, endless piles of laundry. One is dirty and the other is just plain funky. Dirty means we can possibly wear it one more time. Funky means you better grab a gas mask and run just as fast as you can while loading it into the washer.
And then there’s the kids, teenage tantrums, the tirades, an endless list of chores, emails, voice mails, activities, sports banquets, church activities, work, end of the grade exams, supper duty, dirty toilets, dishes, and unmopped floors. Have I caused anybody to grab for the chocolate or have a nervous sugar meltdown? Honeychild, does anybody feel this drama momma’s pain? Of course you do. We’ve all been there, tired, overcommitted, stressed, crazy schedules, drained, pulled in a million directions…
Tired? It’s Not Just Physical
I’m not gonna lie. I know all too well what it’s like to feel the sting of total emotional and spiritual exhaustion as well. Some of you can relate. You find yourself begging and pleading with a child that has gone prodigal, you weep because you can’t seem to make ends meet with a strained, failing budget, or maybe you are like so many reading this and you find yourself in the battle of your life as you stand for your marriage. He or she walked out on you. Your mind is being taunted with questions, the what if’s , the why’s, the fear, doubt and worry. Your heart tells you no one understands and the enemy tries to convince you that God doesn’t hear your prayers, that you are unseen and insignificant.
Tired? God Is Calling You To Rest
Can I just get real with you? God is VERY interested in the topic of rest. To Him, rest is not just wasted time, time when we could be doing something useful and productive. Rest, in our Father’s eyes has value, worth and purpose. We see in the Word of God that even Jesus rested. He often withdrew from people, ministry, His daily routine in order to spend time alone with God.
… the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. ~Luke 5:15-16
You see, Jesus understood that the need was endless. You may be sensing that same very thing as well. My children need me, my students need me, my ailing parents need me, my friends need me, my husband needs me, work is calling my name… all the while our God is calling us to seek Him first, get our priorities back in line, and find sweet rest.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ~Matthew 11:28
Finding R.E.S.T.
RENEW: Renew your mind, read the Word of God and let your spirit be rejuvenated. I often love to camp out in the book of Psalms. It is there that many times, I find refuge and new strength to face my day-to-day battles.
ESCAPE: Escape from your normal routine and daily pressures from others and get into the presence of God through prayer and meditation. Find a quiet place and take time to cry out to God. Our God sees our brokenness and our tears. He wants us to empty our exhaustion before Him.
SURROUND: Surround yourself with godly people who will encourage you. Sometimes the burdens are just too heavy to bear alone. God wants us to love and empower one another.
TAKE TIME: Take time for yourself! Exercise, take a walk, put your toes in the sand, find a new hobby, go shopping, do something for yourself, grab that chocolate, peanut butter and a couple of coconuts, before you go nuts!
Are you stressed out, burned out and about to pull your hair out? There is only One who can give true rest–the refreshing, rejuvenating, restoring, refilling, life-giving rest that we all long for, and His name is Jesus.
By Beverley Weeks |Website
Beverly Weeks is an energized Christian speaker who is devoted to encouraging couples with God’s inspired Word. She has written numerous online devotions, blogs & articles to exemplify powerful, practical biblical truths to couples standing for their marriage and family. Candidly & transparently, Beverly shares the grace, hope & redemption that Christ offers to all and their marriage relationships. Beverly speaks from personal experience, a confident faith and a zealous passion, proclaiming encouraging messages of hope. She engages women’s groups, churches and conferences with topics such as Battling Low Self Esteem to Healing in Your Marriage. Beverly presently serves with Intentionally Yours, a marriage focused ministry, facilitates Art of Marriage conferences and is a Homebuilder Catalyst for Family Life Ministries.
