Five Reminders for the Weary and Burdened Soul

Do you ever feel like you just aren’t enough? Do you feel like there isn’t enough of you to go around and, no matter how much effort you pour out, there’s always something lacking, somewhere you’ve fallen short, or something that hasn’t panned out as you expected? I sure do.

Some days, I wonder why I’m 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, working, caring for my family, trying to push through constant physical pain, keeping up with ministry responsibilities, taking care of the house, laundry, shopping, and countless other stressors in life – it’s enough to make me curl up in a ball and cry like a baby.

Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, working to pay the bills, or juggling the pressures of school, work, and countless other “to do’s,” life can leave you feeling depleted, weary, and stressed beyond what feels bearable. 

But what if, instead of trying to put off our to-do lists or pushing through life in our own strength, we remind ourselves of these five truths today…

1. Jesus 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 independence and self-sufficiency. Personally, when I’m overwhelmed, I know my knee jerk reaction is to put my head down and just plow through it – often to the detriment of my physical and spiritual health. But Christ reminds us that he never asked us to save or sustain ourselves, and we will never find rest trying to carry the burdens of life on our own shoulders. Jesus died to take the weight of our sin, sorrows, and suffering on himself, and yet how often do we consciously and unconsciously take them back onto our own shoulders? When we walk in our own self-sufficiency, we walk outside of the rest he bought for us with his very own blood.

We’ll find this rest by spending time with him. Literal, physical time with him – even if it has to look a little different in different seasons. 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 me for trying to live independently of you. Help me learn from you and find rest for my soul.”

2. Christ will be faithful to provide what we need; but we need to 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 recognize ways we are seeking to satisfy our temporary desires over what Christ desires, or exhausting ourselves in areas that he hasn’t called us to in our current season. We won’t find rest while seeking things apart from Christ or trying to do and be everything to everyone around us.

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

“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 – or resign ourselves to our circumstances with a grumbling and discontent spirit. 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 we need, even if it’s just to put one foot in front of the other today.

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 can find true rest when we acknowledge that we don’t need to be enough or do enough to be accepted and loved, because Christ is and always will be enough on our behalf. Laying our burdens at his feet and receiving his grace for today is a moment-by-moment practice. We’ll always battle the desire to take back control, so we need to consistently remind submit ourselves to Christ as Lord over our lives, giving 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’s 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! And faith is worth fighting for. No one wins a fight without training, pushing through pain at times, and getting proper nourishment, so we need to consistently call on God’s strength to not give up when everything in us is ready to throw in the towel. One day, if we have surrendered our life to Jesus, 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? I’ll be the first to admit that some days, even the thought of getting out of bed seems like more than I can bare. But we have to remind ourselves that we don’t need to be enough for everyone and everything today – even our own expectations of ourselves. Jesus Christ is enough to provide for every need, burden, fear, and “to do” list that we may have. He doesn’t expect us to have all the answers, to juggle the complexities of life seamlessly, or never falter spiritually. Instead he 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” (Matthew 11:28-30).

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

Home is around the corner,

Sarah Walton

To read more of Sarah’s writings, you can purchase a copy of He Gives More Grace: 30 Reflections for the Ups and Downs of Motherhood, Hope When It Hurts: 30 Biblical Reflections to help you grasp God’s purpose in your suffering), Tears and Tossings (short evangelistic resource on how God carries our sorrows), or Together Through the Storms (for married couples navigating the trials of life).