Rest

Being tired is something that I have grown accustomed to over the past few months. Before Judah was born I knew that I was going to lose sleep and it didn’t really bother me until this week. Going back to work was a little bit of a challenge and I was very thankful that my first week was cut short with two snow days and a two hour delay. As this week drug on I had a harder time getting out of bed in the morning because I was so tired. On Thursday I looked around at one of my classes and wondered why the students all looked as tired as I felt. Then it hit me, my school has not been in session for a whole five-day week with no delays since before Christmas. Not a lot of schools have had consistent weeks this winter due to all the snow and cold temperatures.

Being busy is part of my life that I actually enjoy because it makes me feel a lot more productive, but it definitely makes me feel a lot more tired too. I will admit that a few times this week I have come home from school and taken a nap with Judah. Waking up from that nap made me feel more refreshed and ready to tackle the evening.

Tiredness does not just plague me in my physical life, but sometimes I get tired in my spiritual life. If I were to take a guess, you probably feel tired and drained in your spiritual life too. There are really two reasons why I become “tired” in my spiritual life: too much going on and trying to do things on my own.

Sometimes too much good is bad. I was just reminded of a day this fall that was completely full of ministry opportunities. Michael and I started the day early in the morning at a community outreach event and then had a youth ministry event at our house that evening. We left our house at about 7 AM and did not sit down to rest until after midnight. It was a great day of ministry, but looking back we were spread a little too thin and I don’t know how effective our ministry was that day. When we try to do too much it can often lead to us becoming ineffective and burned out.

The second way that I get “tired” in my spiritual life is when I try to do things on my own. This usually happens to me after I begin getting prideful of what I bring to my relationship with God. I have been reading my Bible, I have been going to church, I have been inviting others to church and sharing Jesus with them, I have been… When I start to think that “I can” do anything I quickly realize that all I can do is wear myself out.

There is one very simple remedy to spiritual tiredness just like taking a nap or getting a good night of rest is a remedy for physical tiredness. Matthew 11:28-30 says:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

When I feel like I am doing too much, God can give me the strength to push on and do my best or point out the areas that I do not need to focus my attention on at that point in time. He can/will give spiritual rest for us when we are heavy laden if we will rely on Him. And when I am crazy and think I can do things on my own, Jesus reminds me that His yoke is easy and burden is light because Jesus is the one bearing the load. He uses willing vessels and will give us the strength we need. I often have to remind myself to stop trying to do things on my own and let God work through me.

It is hard, but we have to learn to let go of ourselves and let God work. He may give us something that is too hard and tests us, but He will also provide the strength and rest we need to make it through. Rely on Him!

Sarah

Teen Leader