Yesterday, I woke up craving some peaceful time in nature to think and to refresh. My soul needed rest and peace. But I couldn’t find it. A neighbor blasted their radio with bass pounding and commercials blaring from 5:50 AM - dark. Inflammation left my body fatigued, achy and my brain unable to think. Something I ate ended in an allergic reaction. My emotions flared, my head pounded and I found myself snapping at my husband all day long. I couldn’t wait to go to bed, sleep and start over.
Ever been there?
- the rest of the story -
After a night of sleep, serenaded by soft refreshing rain, I awoke. As the sun rose, up in the ‘Ohi’a trees a red cardinal began singing his heart out. As I sat in bed, quietly sipping my tea and beginning my day with prayer, that cardinal’s song brought a very old choir piece to my mind:
“For you shall go out in joy,
be led forth in peace,
the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you
into singing, and all the trees, the trees will clap their hands.”
(taken from Isaiah 55:12 but I could not find the composer of the version we sang in the 1970's)
This painting of the Pacific Northwest coastal forest reminds me of this song and this Bible verse. The trees rustling and creaking in the coastal winds, clapping their hands, and the birds that fill the forests breaking forth in song!
But my day yesterday wasn't filled with joy. Nor did I feel at peace. I had some hard decisions to make. I have some difficult health issues to figure out. I had a “to-do” list longer than I could ever hope to complete. And my heart is broken as I grieve for a dear friend.
What do you tend to do when you hit bottom like this? How do you cope? More importantly, how do you return to living in joy and peace?
I am so thankful that Jesus gave me the answer to these questions. He invited all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens to come to him and he would give us rest.
"Then Jesus said, ' Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" Matthew 11:28-29
Jesus takes the responsibility of our burdens on himself so we can rest. But that means we have to be willing to let go of them and let him carry the weight. If a porter at an expensive hotel offers to carry your bags for you, would you say yes, but continue to keep hold on the handle yourself? Unless you were Mr. Bean or some other comedy character, of course not!
By releasing our worries, our struggles, our fears, and even our “to-do” lists and letting him carry them, we are blessed with rest for our weary souls.
As I sat in bed this morning with my tea, thinking about all of this, I prayed and handed Jesus each decision, each heartache, each fear, and all the things I felt I “needed” to do. And as I did, I realized that he would carry them, and organize them for me. And suddenly, I heard it… the trees outside my window clapping with joy, and a chorus of birds singing.
I found peace, and as I faced my day with Jesus carrying my burdens, I also experienced joy.
I pray that even in the midst of whatever is causing you to feel weary today, that you can find rest for your soul by handing your burdens to Jesus. He is gentle and humble at heart and will give you rest… just like he did for me.
Now I'd like you to imagine walking around a crowded mall. And imagine you can see the burdens people are carring, as clearly as you can see their backback or the large heavy handbag slung over their shoulder. How many people in that shopping mall do you think you would see struggling under the weight of that backpack or bag? I'm guessing a lot.
It's not only important that we put our own heavy load into Jesus' hand, but we also need to have compassion and empathy for the burdens others are carrying as well. We should never compare burdens. Anything that leaves a person weary is a burden worth acknowledging and caring about.
You don't need to go around a crowded mall looking for someone carrying a heavy burden in their heart. They are already right there in your life. I'm sure you can think of someone right now.
Once we have laid our burdens on Jesus and experience the rest and peace he offers, we are ready to help others. Begin praying for that person you just thought of. And when the time is right, share the truth with them that Jesus is gentle and humble at heart and will carry their burdens too. Share your own experience with them, just like I shared mine with you, and help them find rest and peace for their soul.
“I found peace, and as I faced my day with Jesus carrying my burdens, I also experienced joy.”
