Rest

A few weeks ago I felt a tiredness that was more than the physical. I sensed a weariness in my soul. My nature is the ‘do what you have to do’ —tired or not kind. When things need to get done, someone has to do it! This mindset, though admirable, sometimes leads to burnout. We end up in a place where we cannot function optimally. Something eventually suffers. We were made to have times of refreshing. God invites us to ‘rest’ for a reason.

I learned that tiredness makes us vulnerable to all sorts of attack. Problems tend to appear much more overwhelming than they really are—mole hills become mountains. Our own ability to fight off toxic thoughts can become compromised. It becomes easier to succumb to the loudest voices making noise in our heads. Our lens can eventually become so foggy that our decisions are often made from an unhealthy place. There is a solution to tiredness. There is a rest that is more the physical—a place where our soul becomes like a well-watered garden.

There’s a rest
A place where my soul
Stays anchored
Where storms cannot uproot me
The noise of the enemy
Cannot move me
Here I stand unmoved
Bent over at times
But never defeated

At the feet of a Father
Whose words bring life
My tired bones awaken
A place where truth prevails
Lies are exposed
I begin to see
As He sees
Once more I hear

Feeble knees gain strength
I walk again
I fight as a wiser me—a stronger me
Fiery darts though aimed my way
The shield of faith stands as my guard
The warrior rouses from slumber
Shakes off the weariness of heart
Once again—she learns the art of war

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28 (NRSV) – Words of Christ.