Weariness
Scripture:
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Reflection:
Today I fast from the wound of weariness.
We often associate weariness with being tired, but weariness goes far deeper. Those who are weary feel exhausted of all strength, vigor, energy and stamina. Weariness occurs when we overexert our mind, will, body, soul, and spirit. It’s the result of pushing and pushing until we have nothing left. It’s the sad outcome of attempting to exert our own power in ways that we are not meant to.
If we’re not careful, weariness opens the door to despair and disappointment. And it’s something that comes to all of us. Thankfully, Christ offers us a way forward in Matthew 11:28-30. Christ calls us to come away - to take a break from the routines and spaces that caused our weariness. Christ calls us to come to him - to tune in to his rhythms and to engage in meaningful connection. Christ calls us to refocus our hearts - to learn a new a better way in which we depend on the direction and power of God more than ourselves. These three calls - to come away, to come to Christ, and to refocus, work together to heal our weary hearts and set us on the right path.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
What has caused weariness in my life in the past or present?
Which of the calls (to come away, to come to Christ, to refocus) do I most need to embrace today?
Prayer:
Share with God the things causing weariness in your life. Thank God for the rest offered to us in Christ. Take some time to re-read and reflect on Matthew 11:28-30, allowing Jesus to speak directly to you in your situation.
These devotions have been adapted from “Lenten Healing: 40 Days to Set You Free from Sin” by Ken Kniepmann.
