Rest for the Weary

By: Jenifer Metzger

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of

you who are weary and carry heavy

burdens, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 11:28

As I lie awake unable to sleep -thank you insomnia- I glance over at the clock. 3:30AM. The alarm will sound in only 30 minutes. Yes, 4:00AM starts my day. After the annoying buzzing, I tiredly drag myself from bed and begin the process of getting ready.

Brush teeth. Shower. Lotion. Skincare. Makeup. Hair. Dress. I take my son to work then head back home to take care of the dogs, read my Bible and pray, and workout; then there's laundry, dishes, vacuuming, writing, church ministry prep, dinner, and more.

Throughout the day I hear word of a sick friend and another grieving from loss. I read word of chaos and evil in the world. My mama heart hurts as my child is facing their own struggles.

I fall into bed at night feeling spent. Completely weary physically, mentally, and emotionally. I think that if I can just get a good night sleep I will feel so much better. Sound familiar? While we do need sleep, it doesn't change our early alarms, full planners, or weary hearts. Only Jesus can do that.

Jesus tells us to come to Him. He will give us true rest.

So how do we go to Him? How do we find rest?

Praise. Spend time worshiping God. Praise Him for His goodness and give thanks for the blessings He's given to you. Praise shifts the focus away from our burden and onto the One who can take our burdens away.

Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my

whole heart, I will praise His holy name.

Psalm 103:1

Share. Give your concerns to God. You alone cannot change the chaos and troubles. But God can. Tell Him your struggles, tell Him what is on your heart, even tell Him when you are just physically tired. He cares about you and He's always listening.

Give all your worries and cares

to God, for He cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7

Read. The Bible is not only our instruction manual, it is our love letter from God. His words bring healing and comfort. They give us what we need in just the right moment. Sitting down and reading the Word is like exhaling that breath we've been holding.

Study this Book of Instruction

continually. Meditate on it day and

night so you will be sure to obey

everything written in it. Only then will

you prosper and succeed in all you do.

Joshua 1:8

Trust. Trust that whatever is going on, God is in control. He has you right in the palm of His hand. He doesn't take a vacation and He doesn't sleep. He is right there. You can trust Him.

He will not let you stumble; the one
who watches over you will not slumber.

Psalm 121:3

When we praise, pray, read the Word, and trust in our Heavenly Father, we find the rest our soul so desperately needs. Rest that no amount of caffeine or even sleep will give us.

It's time for Share A Link Wednesday! Each Wednesday we invite you to leave a link to your latest blog post in the comments. We still desire to connect women of God with one another and encourage each other in Christ. So grab a cup of coffee or glass of sweet tea, sit back and visit a few blogs. Be encouraged and share your own stories.