‍Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28 NIV

You know what drives me crazy?  

Watching television shows or commercials and seeing women who are rushing around trying to do a million things in one day – all with big smiles on their faces.  Mercy.  Sisters, are you tired?  Do you feel that if you add one more thing to your schedule that you are going to fall over in exhaustion?  

I understand.  More than you think.  Let me tell you more.

I am a former people-pleaser.  There are times that I still feel the urge to say “Yes” when I do not want to do so, but, for the most part, I easily say “No” when needed.  You see, I was diagnosed with clinical depression in my early 30’s (I have been in recovery for many years and am doing great now! ☺) and I felt compelled to constantly say “Yes” to every little thing.  I was afraid that people would not like me, so I constantly said “Yes” so I would have instant friends; whether it was joining a new committee or saying yes to a lunch with someone who made me feel bad about myself.  Maybe I thought that if I just kept going and going and doing and doing that I would forget how sad I was.

Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves.  He promised that He would give us rest because He knows how much we need to rest.  “Rest?”  I have carpooling each day, Christmas cards to send out, Christmas gifts to buy and wrap, and a work project due at the end of the week.  

Rest is a luxury that I cannot afford.  Oh, sisters, Jesus wants to relieve our burdens and give us much-needed rest.  We cannot know His true peace if we are running around at warp speed day in and day out.  Let’s slow down, have a cup of cocoa, and ask Him to order our days and our schedules.  He is ready with His arms wide open.  What a friend we have in Jesus!

Look at your schedule and see if there is any task that you can delegate to others.  Maybe there is something on your schedule that you can eliminate completely so you can carve more time for rest?

Heavenly Father, I pray for me and for my sisters in Christ.  We need rest so much.  We are overworked and overwhelmed, and we need more of You.  Please order our schedules and our days so we can rest in You.  We love You so dearly.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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