"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28
I've known that verse since I was a child. But it never fully made sense to me. You know how it is when you're a kid...you never really get tired. You don't sleep unless you have too and a full day at Chucky Cheese sounds like the best day ever! Somewhere before 29, things changed. We went and played ski ball for an hour the other evening and my back was sore for hours!
I never really understood what it was like to be burdened either. Even after I was married, I still believed that people could just choose to have kids whenever they wanted. I didn't know anyone with cancer or who had parents pass away. The most stressful part of my day was rush hour traffic. Getting home a little after 5 pm seemed like I had a full schedule with no time for myself.
Well, when Blake was in Haiti I was reading a book called "Desperate" which is a book written by moms for moms. There was a chapter about weariness, and I felt like it was so speaking to me. Sure, I was physically tired, but there was a lot of other issues going on too, and I was so grateful to be reminded that 1) I was not the only one feeling weary and 2) Jesus promises rest. Now, the rest Jesus talks about isn't necessarily physical or immediate relief from a physical ailment. It is the rest of knowing that He knows all of the big and small issues that weigh on me daily. It is the rest that He cares about the sparrows, so of course He cares that we are clothed and fed daily. It is the rest that He is in control of situations that seem so dire and desperate, both in my life and around the world. It is the rest that He gives me strength to run the race and rewards me at the end for persevering.
Here are some of the things that have made me weary and burdened:
*Balancing school, motherhood, housework, cooking, church, friends, and whatever else is thrown my way.
*Speaking of motherhood...having to rinse my child off in the sink after every meal and spend the entire meal sharing my own food with him (even though we are eating the same thing!).
*Also in the arena of motherhood...trying to be calm and patient when the fits come. Yep, the two's are coming!
*Having to plan a playdate around my friend's chemo schedule. And daily bearing the burden that my friend is suffering and battling her way through a cancer diagnosis.
*Watching people I love make terrible choices.
*Trying to battle indifference towards God's Word.
*Having a car that is beginning to fall apart and at the same time trying to pay off medical bills. With earthly eyes, there is no way we're getting out of this hole!
All of these things are weighing on me. They are burdening me. They make me weary.
But, as Jesus promises, He does not leave us or forsake us. He is walking through these days with me. He has a plan for us that may never include wealth, but will always include joy.
Here are some of the ways He has given us rest - just some of many!:
*He provides friends who I can share life with. Getting together with them and discussing the stresses of life and knowing that I am not alone is so comforting. Some have toddlers and some have had toddlers. All are a great encouragement to me!
*My little guy can throw some big time tantrums...but makes me laugh out loud all of the time. There is nothing like having toddler arms squeezing your neck and having toddler lips giving you sloppy kisses!
*God still provides things that allow me to make my house pretty and to wear that don't have holes in them!
*And the most recent blessing...a all-expense paid trip to North Carolina with my husband. It was unexpected and wonderful. I spent an entire morning by myself and I had the opportunity to sit on a bench, in the woods, by a brook...and just soak in God's Word. It was refreshing and renewing to be around other Believers and friends who I haven't seen in years! It was refreshing to sleep at nights and have time to go on a three mile hike with my man.
God knows what we need and has ways of providing that we often do not see coming. He is good and faithful. He promised rest and He gives it. It won't always be a free trip alone with my husband...but if I look for it, He is giving me rest every day!
I've known that verse since I was a child. But it never fully made sense to me. You know how it is when you're a kid...you never really get tired. You don't sleep unless you have too and a full day at Chucky Cheese sounds like the best day ever! Somewhere before 29, things changed. We went and played ski ball for an hour the other evening and my back was sore for hours!
I never really understood what it was like to be burdened either. Even after I was married, I still believed that people could just choose to have kids whenever they wanted. I didn't know anyone with cancer or who had parents pass away. The most stressful part of my day was rush hour traffic. Getting home a little after 5 pm seemed like I had a full schedule with no time for myself.
Well, when Blake was in Haiti I was reading a book called "Desperate" which is a book written by moms for moms. There was a chapter about weariness, and I felt like it was so speaking to me. Sure, I was physically tired, but there was a lot of other issues going on too, and I was so grateful to be reminded that 1) I was not the only one feeling weary and 2) Jesus promises rest. Now, the rest Jesus talks about isn't necessarily physical or immediate relief from a physical ailment. It is the rest of knowing that He knows all of the big and small issues that weigh on me daily. It is the rest that He cares about the sparrows, so of course He cares that we are clothed and fed daily. It is the rest that He is in control of situations that seem so dire and desperate, both in my life and around the world. It is the rest that He gives me strength to run the race and rewards me at the end for persevering.
Here are some of the things that have made me weary and burdened:
*Balancing school, motherhood, housework, cooking, church, friends, and whatever else is thrown my way.
*Speaking of motherhood...having to rinse my child off in the sink after every meal and spend the entire meal sharing my own food with him (even though we are eating the same thing!).
*Also in the arena of motherhood...trying to be calm and patient when the fits come. Yep, the two's are coming!
*Having to plan a playdate around my friend's chemo schedule. And daily bearing the burden that my friend is suffering and battling her way through a cancer diagnosis.
*Watching people I love make terrible choices.
*Trying to battle indifference towards God's Word.
*Having a car that is beginning to fall apart and at the same time trying to pay off medical bills. With earthly eyes, there is no way we're getting out of this hole!
All of these things are weighing on me. They are burdening me. They make me weary.
But, as Jesus promises, He does not leave us or forsake us. He is walking through these days with me. He has a plan for us that may never include wealth, but will always include joy.
Here are some of the ways He has given us rest - just some of many!:
*He provides friends who I can share life with. Getting together with them and discussing the stresses of life and knowing that I am not alone is so comforting. Some have toddlers and some have had toddlers. All are a great encouragement to me!
*My little guy can throw some big time tantrums...but makes me laugh out loud all of the time. There is nothing like having toddler arms squeezing your neck and having toddler lips giving you sloppy kisses!
*God still provides things that allow me to make my house pretty and to wear that don't have holes in them!
*And the most recent blessing...a all-expense paid trip to North Carolina with my husband. It was unexpected and wonderful. I spent an entire morning by myself and I had the opportunity to sit on a bench, in the woods, by a brook...and just soak in God's Word. It was refreshing and renewing to be around other Believers and friends who I haven't seen in years! It was refreshing to sleep at nights and have time to go on a three mile hike with my man.
God knows what we need and has ways of providing that we often do not see coming. He is good and faithful. He promised rest and He gives it. It won't always be a free trip alone with my husband...but if I look for it, He is giving me rest every day!
