Are you weary? Is your calendar overbooked? Is the pace of your life more than you can realistically sustain? We may look for rest and rejuvenation in all the wrong places. How much time do we spend thinking about our circumstances, burying our heads in the sand, scrolling social media, getting riled up by politics, or discussing woes with others?
I believe with my whole heart that the Lord gives us great grace for our journey through difficult times, but I have also found great practical wisdom in this well-known passage of Scripture in recent days:
“Come to Me, all you 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
Here are the lessons I’m clinging to from this passage:
-Our rest comes from being in the presence of God. That has to be the first place we run. We can’t first run to others, to our phone screens/social media or Netflix, to old habits, or any other thing. Jesus invites us to Himself. Sitting and resting in the presence of God can provide rest and healing in a moment. Perhaps he is using our weariness to draw us near.
-Partnering with the Holy Spirit lightens the load. So often, we plan and lead out of our own strength. Allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us causes things to happen supernaturally in a day that may have taken a year had we depended on our human endurance. I’m not discussing a rest where you escape and disengage. I’m talking about rest while you work- working from a place of rest, refreshed by the Holy Spirit.
-Walking with Jesus is the easy way out. Please don’t misunderstand me here, and think the Christian walk is easy. We know that Jesus said we would have trouble, but He promised He has overcome the world. (John 16:33) Sometimes, we think we can bypass the path the Father lays out to follow what we feel may be a better way. In actuality, this invites more strife and struggle. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. Walking in wisdom provided by the Holy Spirit leads us to rest. This wisdom should prompt us to do an inventory of our lives. Do we need to remove things from our calendar or list of commitments? Our bodies weren’t created to sustain the load and pace in which the current American culture operates. Use wisdom as you carefully evaluate what you say “yes” to.
Sure, we are overwhelmed and weary. But the good news is that Jesus has overcome. He promised a helper, the Holy Spirit. He invites us to come. It’s only in His presence that we find real rest. I encourage you to spend time in worship, prayer, fasting, studying the Word, meditating and memorizing Scripture, and sitting in silence to hear from the Lord. The world is noisy right now. So, steal away with Jesus for a bit. He lightens our load. He has brought us freedom from the things that weigh us down. Be intentional about where you draw your strength. His presence is the place of rest for your weary soul.
A great place to find rest, encouragement, and inspiration is at our IPHC Women’s Leader’s Gathering. This event will be held September 15-17 at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC. Natalie Runion will be our guest speaker. If you are a woman who leads, then this event is for you! Visit iphc.org/women for more details.
Whitney Davis is a wife, mom, encourager, and visionary. She is a South Carolina girl who now calls North Carolina home. She worked for 12 years as a Labor & Delivery and Mother/Baby nurse before transitioning to full-time ministry to women. Whitney grew up in the IPHC and her husband, Brad, has been an IPHC minister for over 20 years. They have a blended family of five children- Carmen, Evelyn, Sullivan, Ellington, and Deacon.
Whitney has a passion for helping women on the journey of becoming more like Jesus. She desires for Women’s Ministries to be the arm of the church that is uniquely positioned to equip women for the work of discipleship.
Whitney loves having coffee with friends, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.
