Time of Rest

 

It has been a long two years.  The last two years have been filled with dreams shattered, plans changed, and us doing things that we never imagined.  Home-schooling children while working remote, masking up when going out, educating ourselves in areas of medicine we never thought we would need to, and for many of us, embarking on a new work platform.  Being in the Human Resources field for well over thirty years, I can truthfully say I never experienced anything like this in my career.  While working from home, work and home was blurred.  There did not seem to be a beginning or end of the workday, it all was one.  Works hours started at 6AM and many times did not end until 11PM.

Work is not the only area that weighs heavy on us.  Our home lives have changed as well.  We have new stressors that have emerged.  Children and school can still present challenges.  The economy has brought on worries that we have not had in some time.  Physically going on vacation may be something we can do but affording it can now be a challenge.  The pressures of this world can seem overwhelming, and many times, out of our control.

Weary and burdened.  Those two words can resonate with us these days.  It seems as if the weight of the world is on our shoulders.  We cannot sleep, we cannot eat, and we do not know where to turn.  Our verse for this week is a verse I keep close to me – in my day timer at work, on my phone, tagged in my Bible – places where I can turn when the words weary and burdened are so real.  Put your name in this verse and feel Jesus talking to you, “Come to me, Susan, you who is weary and burdened.  I, your Jesus, will give you rest.”

When I say those words to myself, my weariness decreases and my peace increases.  I immediately realize I am not in this thing called life alone.  I have the one and only Jesus who can take away my burden.  In His words, I find the rest that I need at that moment.  It is at that time that I know I can go on.  It is in His love, that I find hope.  Close your eyes and repeat the words from above.  Breath in and know that the Lord God is with you with every step you take.  Know that our Jesus wants you to come to Him – willingly go and seek His rest.

Dearest Jesus, thank you for the invitation to rest in your arms.  When this world seems too much to bear, thank you for being the place I can go and receive peace, love, and hope.  In your loving name I pray, Amen.