Rest for Your Soul

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30

Have you ever felt so tired that your emotions are raw and exposed? You find it difficult to concentrate, are impatient, resentful and quick to anger? You can’t seem to find the energy to do the things you enjoy most, like a bike ride or walk on the beach. You are drained of energy, lethargic and you feel like you can’t do one more thing.  No matter what you do, you can’t seem to shake this feeling of mental and emotional exhaustion.  

We all experience periods of exhaustion brought on by worry, stress, anxiety, boredom, not being able to sleep and/or when the activities of life simply overwhelm us. Of course if the fatigue lasts longer that two weeks, it may time to see a doctor, to make sure that there isn’t some underlying medical condition. For most of us though the condition is temporary and situational.  We get so focused on the “to do” and forget about the “just being”.  

We know that eating nutritious food and exercise are essential for living a healthy and productive life.  It is also important to take some quiet “me time" to do the things that bring pleasure, such as reading a book, writing, playing or listening to music, or a walk to commune with nature. Quiet time affords us the opportunity to reflect and pray.  

Most importantly, prayers of gratitude, faith and forgiveness during times of fatigue are most effective at lifting us up and help us to become more energized. When we start by handing over all of our worries to God, and come to him with a heart filled with gratitude, our burden becomes light and our yoke becomes easy to bear.  

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

³¹ But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Dear God, 

I come to you today filled with humility, gratitude and joy for the many blessings you have afforded me. I am grateful for my health, my loving spouse, my dear sweet caring friends and family and for providing me with all that I need to live a peaceful, faith-filled life. Thank you for this beautiful warm Spring day. The gentle blossom scented breeze washes over me and I feel your presence and your love. I will revel in this quiet moment of joy and peace, carry it with me and live this day with a thankful heart.  

Amen    

⁹ And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)