Recently, I have been going through a season of TIRED. Not just that my body is tired, but my whole being is tired. Most of us know what it feels like to be physically tired, especially this time of year when the days are short and the air is cold. This kind of weather has a remarkable effect on many New Englanders who long for the long days of sunshine and warmer air. This lack of vitamin D (and vitamin sea!) and all this cold air in and of itself can create physical tiredness. Burning the midnight oil working, running around doing errands, taking care of elderly parents or young children, or even pushing ourselves to get physically fit can cause us to be physically tired, too. But, combine some of those things together, and well… sometimes we get more than physically tired.
For me, it’s been a string of unfortunate events and life just happening. An elderly grandparent going into the hospital followed by issues at a rental property, followed by the demanding schedules of 5 teenagers, followed by a flood in the finished basement, followed by a blizzard… the list could go on, but you get the point. I am tired, not just physically tired, but it feels like my soul is tired, and no amount of sleep, slacking off, bowls of ice cream, or Netflix seems to help and give me the rest I need.
Have you ever felt that way? Has your soul ever been tired? If you are human and you breathe air, then my guess is, “yes.” What do we do when our souls just feel tired?
So often, (if you’re anything like me) we tend to cut out our spiritual habits first when we start to get busy or overwhelmed. Prayer? – Maybe later… gotta get out the door to do “the things.” Read the Bible? – Uuuuhhhhh, maybe after I turn my brain off, while watching Netflix, from the 5,000 things on my plate. Maybe then I can “give” my time to God. Sound familiar, or is it just me?
The Bible, and even experience for a great number of us, tell us that those things we think and feel just aren’t true. Checking the things off of our never ending list isn’t actually going to fill us up and I can’t think of a single person who ever said, “binging on tv was just what I needed… I feel SO refreshed!” So, what does the Bible say about this?
Well, the answer is in what looks like work. Scripture is pretty clear that we serve a God who cares… a God who will give us rest, TRUE rest, if we ask, submit ourselves, and let Him do the work in us (not for us).
‘ “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
Does this mean that God will get your laundry done for you or make all those sales calls that need to be made for you? NOPE. Probably not. But, when we come into relationship and communion with God and we are able to be vulnerable and present with Him about our needs, shortcomings, and exhaustion, He has the ability to fill up our empty souls with the presence of His Holy Spirit.
Do you not even know where to start?
‘In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ‘ Romans 8:26 – Just start, even if you aren’t sure how – God has your inability covered.
Feeling overwhelmed? Get back into the Bible. Start with these verses:
Isaiah 40:28-29, 31
1 Peter 5:6-7
Jeremiah 31:25
Galatians 6:9
2 Thessalonians 3:13
These things can feel like work when our burden is heavy and we feel overwhelmed, but trust me when I tell you that this “work” will bring you life.
Grace & Peace,
Kristie Peck
Next Generation Pastor
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