A young woman filled with passion for the ministry moves overseas and throws herself into her work. A mom, a church planter, a wife — it’s a lot but all good things. Why stop even if she is tired? Three years later she hits burnout. She is unable to work for months as she recovers. 

To this woman, Jesus invites, “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.” 

A mother’s heart is breaking. Her child is ill but this is mental illness so it’s much harder to cure and resources are more limited. Months of trying to find help only to be told there is no room at the clinic or her child’s condition is too extreme for the program. When the child ends up being hospitalized again, her body hits a stopping point. She wakes up one morning in so much pain. The stress and tension built up in her body telling her she can’t continue like this. 

To this woman, Jesus says, “I am here with you. You are not alone. I am the God who sees you. I can work all things together for good. Keep trusting Me. I am holding you even though you can’t feel it right now. 

An MK longs to fit in. He attends school in his second language, he pushes himself hard and tries to hide that he actually only understands about 50% of what the teacher is saying. He is bullied physically and verbally but he doesn’t say anything. He just wants to be normal. After months of this, he starts developing physical symptoms. The stress, fear, sense of injustice and lack of safety cause constant physical pain. The doctors don’t understand what’s wrong. His symptoms progress and keep him from being able to attend school for the next year. 

To this child, Jesus says, “I love you. You belong to Me. “Cease striving and know that I am God.” I love you more than you can fully understand — that’s how big my love is! Do not be afraid. Find your worth and your identity in Me. 

Exhaustion, burnout, constantly feeling overwhelmed…how many of us feel this? 

- Sometimes it comes as a lack of trust in God as we try to do it all ourselves. 

- Sometimes it looks like being in a really difficult situation and it’s hard to get any respite because you are the main caregiver. 

- Sometimes it’s trying to live up to the standards you have set for yourself and your idea of success. 

- Sometimes it is good intentions but lack of balance or maybe an addiction to accomplishing the tasks you have committed to. 

We want to run this race with endurance, so that means practicing sabbath, fixing our eyes on Jesus, caring for the bodies He has given us, trusting that God is God and He is in control (and I am not). It means pouring our hearts out to the Lord. He wants us to have joy in doing the good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do. Take a deep breath and trust Him today.