In my previous post, I shared these warnings about the weight of weariness we carry in our lives. Remember:
- Weariness amplifies your weakness.
- Weariness will direct your way.
- Weariness weakens your “why.”
Weariness is dangerous, but thankfully, Jesus invites us into His rest!
“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)
Thankfully, in Christ, we can live from a paradigm far different from weariness;
- Instead of restlessness, we can learn to live from a place of rest.
- Instead of stress, we can learn to live from a place of stillness.
- Instead of panic, we can learn to live from a place of peace.
Previously, I gave you three warnings about weariness. Today, I want to give you three reminders about rest.
1) Remember His presence.
It’s absolutely true that weariness can amplify your weaknesses. However, if you lean into God, you will lean into a power source beyond yourself.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
What was true for Paul in this passage is true for us. God’s grace (his loving-kindness, mercy, and divine ability) is sufficient for us in our weariness. But we must lean into Him. Look again at Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus invites us to come to Him when we are weary. But we must accept His invitation in order to receive the benefits available to us by leaning into His presence.
Personal quiet times, worship times, times in the Word, and sometimes just exercising silence and sitting before Jesus are all ways we say yes to His open invitation to come and find rest in Him.
2) Remember the practical.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)
I recently sat through a mental health seminar. The counselor gave us all some good practical advice. Chances are, you have heard these before. I sure have, but I was reminded again that there is a difference between hearing and doing. Here are a few pointers he gave when it came to combating weariness:
- Honor your day off—why in the world is the Sabbath so hard for us to keep? It’s the simplest concept to grasp (take 24 hours off), yet so hard to do. But the fruit speaks for itself in your physical, emotional, and spiritual life. And I have found that, over time, when I honor the Sabbath regularly, I am far more productive in six days than in seven. Perhaps God knows what He is talking about.
- Prioritize sleep—get up at the same time every day as much as possible. Standardize your sleep schedule. Sleep deprivation plagues our society and is robbing us of living fulfilling lives.
- Eat right and exercise—I’ve tried this, and I’ve tried this, and I’ve tried this. And I will continue to try. You?
- Find a trusted friend—Who is that one person you can tell anything to, confess your weaknesses to, and blow off steam with? Avoid gossip, but we all need a Godly friend we can confide in who serves as a relief valve for our weary souls.
- Get an outlet for what you absorb—in other words, a hobby. Fishing? Hiking? Reading? Walking the dog? Find something you enjoy and do it for just one hour, once a week, if possible.
3) Remember the power of perspective.
I have learned something about the power of perspective (looking at things through the lens of God).
Your peace is often found in your perspective.
How you see something often determines the level of your strength in the situation. And… your feelings will always follow your focus.
We need to pray for “Holy Spirit eyes” and embrace His perspective. Remember, perspective is often a choice. Paul alludes to this in Galatians 6:9:
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Paul is telling the Galatians that they can choose not to become weary if they maintain the right perspective (in due time, you will reap if you don’t give up).
In other words, maintaining the right perspective will help us maintain strength. However, the opposite is also true. If we fail to maintain the right perspective, our way of viewing a situation can become a slow drain on our internal batteries, leading to great weariness.
Key question: How does your perspective need to change in a situation you are currently walking through in this season of your life?
Remember God’s presence. He refreshes us in a way that no one and nothing else can. Remember the practical. Don’t forget to take measurable steps that will revive your strength. And don’t forget the power of perspective. Your peace is often recovered with a tweak in your perspective!
Be at peace, today!
