Finding Rest

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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.” Matthew 11:28-29

Sometimes, life can be pretty tiring. Before I retired from the local school district, there were many days I would come home physically and emotionally exhausted. Life on a school campus is pretty challenging sometimes, but very rewarding.

I was reminded of my own times of exhaustion recently when a teacher friend of mine messaged me asking for prayer. My friend is a strong Christian and seasoned high school teacher, but her work week had been one for the books. She was literally overwhelmed and had given serious thought to quitting her job. In addition to assuring her that I would be praying for the circumstances surrounding her school challenges, I felt she could best be served by my encouraging her to rest.

The next day, my friend let me know that she had gotten her lesson plans completed (one of the pressing tasks she needed to do) and was about to take a long rest. At that point, she was much more positive about what her upcoming week would look like. Praise God for that!!

When communicating with my friend, I thought of the above Scripture that I’ve found to be true in my life and in the lives of those I love. Jesus tells us that He will give us rest. And He does. I am so thankful for His faithfulness, peace, joy, and comfort. He helps us slow down, take a breath, and trust that He is not silent to our present concerns.

Friends, rest assured that God meets each of us–as different as we are–at the point of our need. Whatever our situation, He is there to help, give comfort, and direct us. We are loved by God and we can meet with Him at the foot of the Cross, where we will find rest for our souls. Meeting regularly with Him will ensure that we are spiritually nourished for anything that comes our way.

Prayer: Dear God, You are the God who sees us. You are big enough to rule this mighty universe, yet small enough to live within our heart. We praise You and thank You for being as close as the mention of Your name. When we feel overwhelmed and in need of rest, You are always present to bring us peace and comfort. Help us to always call on Your name regularly. We love You and praise You for all You are to us. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.