In Need of Rest

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." ~ John 1:14

As the COVID-19 crisis drags on and the election hype continues, it's become harder and harder to keep going. I noticed today how tense my body has become as I try to homeschool without our usual activities and balance caution with common sense when it comes to going out and doing things--not to mention everything else. I'm tired; just plain tired. And I know we all are worn out. Call it COVID fatigue or Zoom fatigue or whatever you want, we're exhausted. Many are struggling, as my family did earlier, with a sick loved one. Others are facing the loss of a job or juggling virtual schooling with much-needed work.

That is why this verse in John seems so appropriate right now. The Word became flesh. Jesus, the Eternal God, stepped into our skin. He didn't just come down as a spirit, or even in a glorified body that was impervious to pain and weakness. No, He became one of us. He became hungry; He became lonely; and He was tired. In Luke 8:22-25, we read how Jesus falls asleep in the disciples' boat. Jesus has been ministering to people, healing them and preaching about the Kingdom of God; now He's so exhausted that He sleeps in a storm.

Jesus knows what it's like to be worn out, and to all of us who are weary and worn He offers this invitation, "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:26). I love that this invitation is given by someone who knows what it is to be weary. My husband and I have often discussed the difference between leaders who have been in the trenches and know what their decisions will mean for their employees and leaders who have risen quickly to prominence and have no concept the work and stress that their ideas cost those beneath them. Jesus was in the trenches. He knows the frustrations of life. He understands first-hand how hard things can be and He holds out His hands and offers us rest, knowing full well how much we need it.

So today we can keep shouldering our burdens and marching on with stoic faces or we can turn to the One who offers us rest. No, things won't magically turn around because of a prayer, but spending time with Him, reading His Word, and asking for His help take our focus off ourselves and onto the One who walked these roads before us. And as we go to Him over and over again, we will find that He is sufficient and He does indeed gives us grace to make it through each day.