Grace for the Weary

Can we all just take a collective sigh together?

We all need a week, a month, a year where nothing happens. Where the news is boring and uneventful. Where plans and meetings are cancelled. Where we aren’t interrupted every five minutes. Where the to-do list actually gets done. Or better yet, is thrown out altogether.

Where we sleep in. Cook a meal. Lay in the grass. Laugh together. Listen to music. Enjoy things again.

But we are weary, are we not? We can’t take one more thing. We can’t handle one more task. We can’t process one more bit of information.

Let’s face it: we’re a stressed out, weary, anxious people.

All Things Are Wearisome

God’s Word does not even try to cover up this reality. With striking honesty, the Bible says, “all things are wearisome, more than one can say” (Ecclesiastes 1:8).

It’s true, is it not?

I love how other translations put it:

• “All things are full of weariness.” (ESV)
• “Everything is wearisome beyond description.” (NLT)
• “Everything leads to weariness – a weariness too great for words.” (GNT)

We keep going and going, working and working, consuming and consuming, but it’s never enough. The stress continues. The weariness doesn’t fade. We are never satisfied or content.

So … what do we do? What truths can we rest in when we are weary?

#1 – Remember God doesn’t grow weary.

“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” (Isaiah 40:28)

Sometimes when we are weary and exhausted, we can begin to think that’s how God feels toward us. But the Lord never tires, never wearies, never slumbers. He is always watching over us with providential love and care.

“The one who watches over you will not slumber.”
(Psalm 121:3 NLT)

#2 – Receive God’s strength.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:29–31)

It says here that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Hope gives us strength when we are weary. Why is that?

It’s because when we are exhausted, we don’t want to think about the future – about all the things we have to do and people we have to deal with. It just makes us more weary and exhausted. It saps our strength to think about such things.

But when we hope in the Lord – when we focus on Him and His plans and the future eternity we have with Christ – our strength is renewed. We can face what’s ahead because we know a greater future is coming.

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
(Colossians 3:2 NLT)

#3 – Rest in Christ.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Christ came for the weary, the exhausted, the burned out. His call to us is not to do more, not to strive, but to rest. He is the great Burden-Bearer, the Rest-Giver, the Ever-Present-Watcher-of-our-Souls, the Prince of Peace and Friend of Sinners.

In our weariness, with our burdens, in our sin …

Come to me, He says.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
(Mark 6:31)

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I hope this site encourages you as we explore God’s grace together.

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