A Prayer for When You’re Worn Out
By Betsy de Cruz
“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.” - Matthew 11:28-30
“If I can just make it to the weekend, I’ll finally get to rest,” I tell myself. I look forward to sleeping in and watching Netflix, but that kind of weekend rest only offers a temporary respite from the challenges I’ll face all over again on Monday morning.
While God offers us a deep soul rest that comes from a close walk with Jesus, we’re often dreaming about our next break or vacation. We don’t realize we can experience spiritual rest even on a busy day.
Jesus offers us an invitation and a promise when all our endeavors have worn us out: “Come to me…I will give you rest.”
All we have to do is draw near to Jesus and turn our hearts toward Him. When we ask Jesus to fill us with His life-giving Spirit and give us the strength and energy we need for our daily tasks, He gives generously. Better yet, He offers to walk with us.
When we keep company with Jesus, we learn His gentle nature and humble heart. As we take His yoke upon us, He guides our efforts, showing us what to make our priority and what to leave undone.
Personally, my worries tire me out even faster than my work. It’s my worries that wake me up at 3:00 in the morning, robbing me of a good night’s sleep. Sometimes I tire myself out carrying burdens my Savior never meant for me to shoulder alone.
When we make the choice to entrust our concerns to Jesus, He carries them for us. We can walk freely and lightly, resting and trusting in His Sovereign, loving care.
Friend, if you feel physically tired today, come to Jesus. Ask Him to walk with you. Make abiding in Jesus your first priority, and He will give you spiritual rest as He directs your work. If you feel wearied by worry, how about handing your burden over to Jesus to carry for you?
Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, I come to you today. You know what makes me tired better than I know myself. Would you fill me with your Holy Spirit and give me the physical and spiritual rest I need?
Lord, forgive me for trying to power through life in my own strength. Forgive me for not trusting you with my concerns and for carrying burdens you never meant for me to carry.
Help me walk closely with you and teach me how to abide in you. Empower me for the work you are calling me to do. Teach me to be gentle and humble in spirit. Lord, give me the grace I need to trust you with my worries and cares. I lay them at your feet. I don’t want to carry anything today except for your yoke, which helps me walk more closely with you.
Lord Jesus, you are my resting place. Help me find my rest in you.
In Your Name I pray, Amen.
Betsy de Cruz helps overwhelmed women take small steps to invite more of God’s presence and power into their lives. Connect with Betsy to get your free Quiet Time Renewal Guide and other resources at FaithSpillingOver.com. Her book More of God is a distracted woman’s guide to more meaningful quiet times. After living in the Middle East for 16 years with her husband and two children, Betsy landed in Texas, where she still enjoys drinking chai with friends.
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