My Soul Needs Rest

It seems as though every morning I wake up in a daze. It’s getting harder and harder to concentrate on the simplest of tasks. My sleeping habits have changed and I’m not as rested when I wake up. My to-do list seems to be getting longer as my productivity plummets. And I’m not just physically tired but I’m mentally as well.

Am I the only one that feels like this? Am I the only one that feels this sense of overwhelming, unproductive, emotionally exhaustive, and mentally draining pressure?

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The times that we are currently in, this year of 2020, has a lot of us on edge. I’ve found myself saying from time to time, “what can possibly happen next?” And as those words escape my lips, something else devastating happens…..

…..tropical storms, earthquakes, tornados, loss of jobs, increased homelessness, police brutality, protests, rioting, food shortages, the list goes on and on….all in the middle of a pandemic. A pandemic in which some people choose to believe that does not exist and somehow the entire world is in on and concerned about American politics. <insert eye roll>

Now, I don’t dare let those words, “what else can possibly happen”, escape my lips.

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My concern and compassion for my family, friends, and people that are vulnerable to disease and suffering, especially during this time, has rendered me helpless and emotional. Being quarantined, away from loved ones and activities that energize me, has drained me physically. But in the back of my mind I hear God saying….

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

In doing this pulse check on how I’m physically and emotionally reacting to all that’s around me, I took a deeper look at my prayer life and study habits. Those too have become more difficult to maintain. It’s become increasingly challenging to quiet my mind and I struggle to hear God’s voice. I’ve come to the realization that not only am I mentally and physically tired, I am spiritually exhausted.

Fatigued souls lead to fatigued bodies…..My soul needs rest!

In Isaiah 40:29, Isaiah reminds us that God “gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” And Jeremiah 31:25, also tells us that God, “will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

Right now I am weak and I am weary. I take no shame in that and neither should you if you find yourself in the same situation same as me, with a fatigued soul. Everyone gets to this point at different times and seasons in their lives. Considering how the world is turning right now, I am not surprised by these feelings. However, I am grateful for the reminders that God has given us in His Word. He DOES provide us with strength when we are weak and refreshes us when we are weary. God takes care of us!

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We must continue to go to God when we are burdened, frustrated, or exhausted. Especially in these times. Especially when it feels like He’s not near or when it becomes a struggle to hear His voice. We must continue to seek Him. He is there, and he does hear our cries. He knows our struggles. Even if all you can utter is, “Help, Lord!”, He hears you.

“Cast all our your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Only God can provide the rest our souls need, we must simply cry out to Him for help!

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them he delivers 
them from all their troubles." 
Psalm 34:17

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Lord, we are crying out to you. Please hear our humble cries. Deliver us from our emotional and physical exhaustion. Give our souls the rest that only You can give. We seek you in our time of need. And we rejoice in knowing our prayer will be answered. We give you all the Glory, the Honor, and the Praise!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen!