Five Reminders for the Stressed, Weary, Busy, and Burdened Soul

Do you ever feel like you just aren’t enough? Like there isn’t enough of you to go around and no matter how much effort you pour out, there is always something lacking? I do. Some days I wonder why I am feeling so overwhelmed and anxious, and then it hits me. It’s this nagging sense of guilt that I forgot to do something, I didn’t do something well enough, or I have so much on my plate that I’ll crack under the weight of it. Some days, it’s seeing all that’s before me with a body and circumstances that make it feel utterly impossible.

Many of us are living in the fast lane and even if we don’t want to, it seems there is no other option. There is this sense that if you aren’t completely maxed out, then you must be lazy, an underachiever, or not goal-oriented. But at some point, most of us will drop the ball and realize that we just can’t be enough to meet every demand, need, or expectation. And sometimes, although we may have been managing fine for a time, we suddenly find ourselves facing circumstances or illness that stop us in our tracks and throw everything into chaos.

Recently, I’ve found myself struggling to juggle all that’s on my plate, which has been intensified by multiple health and family issues. Sometimes the revolving door of meal planning, caring for my family, keeping up with ministry responsibilities, taking care of the house, laundry, shopping, being there for friends, serving, or simply making it to church on time, along with all the other pressures of life, is enough to make me curl up in a ball and cry.

Whether you are a mom at home with kids, a husband trying to provide for his family, or someone juggling the pressures of school, work, and countless other “to do’s,” life can leave you feeling depleted, weary, and stressed. We often try to be enough when Christ never asked us to be. We try to carry burdens he never asked us to carry.

Instead of trying to put off our to-do lists or try to push through in our own strength, let’s remind ourselves today of these five truths:

1. Christ is the source of our rest.

“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.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Why are we so heavy laden? It’s not just because we have a lot to do, but because our hearts are bent towards trying to save ourselves. We ultimately want to be able to juggle everything on our own. But what Christ reminds us is that we aren’t able to save ourselves, and we will never find rest trying to carry the burdens of life on our own shoulders. Christ died to take the weight of our sin on himself, so that we could find rest for our souls in him. However, when we walk in our own self-sufficiency, we walk outside of the rest he bought for us with his very own blood.

We find this rest by spending time with him. Literal, physical time with him. As busy as life is, if we don’t carve out time to spend in his Word, there will always be something else to fill that time. If we don’t fill up our tanks each day, we will run out of gas at some point. We can pray, “Lord forgive the pride in me that says, ‘I can save myself’, and help me learn from you and find rest for my soul.”

2. Christ will be faithful to provide what we need; yet we must discern how and where we are spending our time and energy.

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:8-9)

This is hard to do with so many things that truly need to get done. But we need to always be praying for wisdom and discernment to be aware of ways we are seeking to satisfy our fleshly desires over what Christ desires or exhausting ourselves in areas that he hasn’t called us to invest our time and energy during our current season. We will not find true rest while seeking things apart from Christ or trying to do and be everything.

3. Instead of falling into complaining, giving up, or running from our burdens, stand firm! 

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

Many of us are currently carrying extra-heavy burdens and trials that feel crippling. Understandably so, sometimes it can be all too easy to want to give up. But instead of running, quitting, and complaining, we can stand firm and steadfast in the strength of Christ. As we seek him and rest in him, he will provide what you need, even if it’s just to put one foot in front of the other today. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

4. Receive his grace for today.

“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)

I don’t know about you, but I can be pretty hard on myself. Why? Because for some reason I think I should be able to handle everything thrown at me. That’s pride. Instead of beating ourselves up, we will find relief when admitting that we don’t need to be enough because Christ is and always will be. Laying our burdens at his feet and receiving his grace for today is and moment-by-moment practice. We will always battle the sinful desire to take back control, so we must actively acknowledge Christ as Lord of our lives and constantly hand back to him our “to do” lists, anxious thoughts, fears, and plans, and trust that his grace will be sufficient for today. That is where rest will be found.

5. We press on today in the hope of what is to come.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

This is a fight of faith! No one wins a fight without training, pushing through pain, and getting proper nourishment. And faith is worth fighting for, so don’t give up! One day, if we have given our life to the lordship of Jesus Christ, every weary muscle, tired mind, and tear will be worth the everlasting joy and rest we will experience in the presence of Jesus Christ.

Where are you feeling like you just aren’t enough? Are you feeling beaten down by the burdens of life? Some days it can be hard to get up and keep going, but we must remind ourselves that we don’t need to be enough for everyone and everything. Jesus Christ is enough to provide for every need, burden, fear, and “to do” list that we may have.

Friends, let’s ask for Christ’s help today to lay before him everything that is weighing us down and receive his strength, wisdom, and joy. As we do, we will find rest for our weary souls.

In Christ, Sarah Walton

To read more on the hope we have in suffering, you can purchase “Hope When It Hurts – 30 Biblical Reflections to Help You Grasp God’s Purpose in Your Suffering” authored by Sarah Walton and Kristen Wetherell here or on Amazon. You can purchase the audio version here and the Spanish translation can now be purchased at Poiema.co. You can also now pre-order Jeff and Sarah Walton’s forthcoming book, Together Through the Storms – Biblical Encouragements for Your Marriage When Life Hurts (spring 2020). 

Post Credit to [http://www.unlockingthebible.org/five-reminders-stressed-weary-burdened-soul/]