How’s your week been? Was it busy, overloaded, stressful?
It’s hard living in this world. It takes constant prayer and intention to be in it but not of it.
If you’re anything like me, there are moments when it can feel exhausting. Times when I sequester myself and tell God I just want to spend time with Him, away from the rest of the world.
Sometimes I might even just want to lay down in peace and quiet, finding a safe place to fall asleep. Allow peace and quiet to fortify my soul.
Maybe you can relate to that today.
You know, if that describes you, you happen to be in the perfect place to find perfect peace.
Jesus said in Matthew 11, ““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.” That was verses 28-30.
When we need rest, we can crawl to Jesus and ask to lay our weary head upon his shoulder. When events overwhelm, we can talk to God and ask for help- in fact we should always ask for help- that’s our right as his children!
When our cortisol levels increase and our stress overflows into our words and actions, it’s time for a reset- a rest that best comes from spending time with Jesus.
He’s ready for us to come to him in less than perfect form, pristine mindset, or beautiful prose of praise. He doesn’t mind our mess at all. What he cares about is that we come.
Allow him to help us.
Allow him to care for us.
Allow him to save us.
Because that’s what he came to do- save us from ourselves. Save us from the sin that threatens to overwhelm and consume us, separating us from God. Jesus is here. He wants us to surrender to him.
All our stress.
All of shame.
All our wrongs.
And all our hearts.
He wants to help us navigate toward forgiveness. To be right with God and experience forgiveness. Although we may be physically exhausted he wants to renew our minds and revive our souls.
But for this to happen, we need to take the first step: confess to him.
Acknowledge where we have failed and allow him to carry our burden. Allow the Holy Spirit to help us face those challenges head on, knowing we aren’t in the fight alone.
Let’s take this time to honestly unburden our hearts and allow Jesus to carry what we can’t. Let’s ask him together for just that.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you. Thank you that I can come to you when I’m weary, worn out and worse for the wear. You don’t shy away from me because I’m a mess. Thank you. Thank you Jesus for promising that I can come to you in any shape and you will help me. Help me fully surrender to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.