Today, we kick off a brand new series titled Summertime Reset. It’s exciting to see life return to it’s bubbling itself again. I know that things are picking up again, because my housesitting work has grown exponentially.
There is no doubt that life has been stressful and full of anxiety over the last 15 months, and this is why we need to pause and hit the reset button.
I am not suggesting that life should go back to the way things were pre-pandemic. For as tragic as the pandemic was and is, many good things came of it.
Many people (hundreds of thousands of them) accepted Christ during the pandemic, and many more moved the needle on their spiritual journey.
Maybe you are one of them?
Perhaps you are feeling the overwhelm, and looking to hit the reset button sooner rather than later. If this is you, I hope and pray you find rest and encouragement during this series.
These days our lives are lived with the afterburners on full throttle, but God never intended for us to live our lives this way. We are not supposed to work until we drop from exhaustion or neglect our families in pursuit of the next shiny thing.
We are meant to live life to the fullest with enough rest to carry us through the day, and then put the burdens down and rest and recharge. However, that’s not the case. We put our burdens in our backpack, and carry them to work, to school, and through the day.
Then we put the backpack down, and instead of unloading the burdens we leave them in the backpack and add more the next day. God never meant for this to happen. I have to remind myself of this far too many times.
Let me ask you…
Have you ever fallen into bed, and woke up the next morning still in the same position you were when you fell asleep?
I have done this far too many times. It’s weariness.
In today’s passage, we need a reminder that we were not meant to carry the burdens of the world upon our shoulders.
Jesus says,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
Jesus begins with a request – “Come to me”. Who among us can say these things with such sincerity?
Next He qualifies who should come to Him – “all you who are weary and burdened”. He didn’t say, where are all my perfect peeps – you can come to me.
No, He wants the burdened, wearied, haggard, and helpless to come to Him. That’s us. He wants us to come to Him with all of our problems, troubles, fears, passions, and uncertainties.
And, what does He promise to give us?
He says, “I will give you rest.” Only He can unburden our souls. He has the power to take our yoke upon Himself so that we can walk without a limp.
At times, our world may feel like it is crashing down around us. In fact, you might say, “well, you don’t know what I am going through.” You are right, I don’t, but God does.
That’s why Jesus can say these words with confidence. He can deliver on healing our weary souls.
Application
Today, if you are feeling like you are getting closer to the ground than to heaven, ask Him to remove your burden. He offered to remove your burden, will you take Him up on His offer?
Prayer
Lord, thank you for reminding me that You are stronger and mightier than my burdens. I ask you to lessen my load, and help me move closer to heaven than to the ground. Give me the strength to meet the challenges of today, and rest to tackle tomorrow when it arrives. Thank you for calling me to You. Amen!
Listen On…
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