People often ask us how we are holding up since the life-altering event of Greyson’s cancer relapse occurred on December 3rd. The truth is, we were exhausted by Mid-December, so whatever “three-months past exhaustion” is called, that’s what we are. Our exhaustion has manifested itself in each of us in different ways. For Greyson, his fatigue has manifested in a lot of aggression and sleep. Mason’s exhaustion is seen in his iron-clad will to control his food choices (hamburger with only bbq sauce on a sesame seed bun). We know that he feels like he can’t control much, and what he eats is one thing he can control, so we don’t force the issue too much. Karla’s exhaustion has been physical and emotional. She is tired when she wakes up and exhausted when she lays down. When she gets nervous, she talks a lot which is kind of cute. It’s easy to tell she’s exhausted when have 13 different conversations in 3 minutes.
My exhaustion is a mental exhaustion, with an inability to read, study or think in a clear way. What used to take ten minutes to read now takes about an hour, and even then I still don’t have a clear grasp on what I just read. It’s as if my brain is over-capacity and can’t process one more thing. This results in an inability to explain things, decision fatigue and frustration from wasting so much time trying to do a simple task like read an article.
The truth is, many of you are just as exhausted and burdened as we are. Your life-situation is probably a little different than ours, but the level of your exhaustion, fear and burden is the same. The question is: What do we do when life…takes the life out of us? Jesus gives us clear and simple instructions in situations like this.
Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly 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 (CSB)
Jesus didn’t waste a word. Are you carrying a heavy burden? Are you exhausted? Are you fearful? What did Jesus say? “Come here…I’ll give you rest.”
But how? How do we go to Jesus and find rest? Let me suggest four practical steps for you to take so you can walk towards Jesus:
1) Ask Jesus for help. Pray for strength, endurance, long-suffering. Ask him to help you give your burden to him.
2) Read your Bible. It’s God’s Word, written to you, for you, about Jesus. There you find hope, peace and rest.
3) Walk in faith. Faith is the “evidence of things not yet seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Trust that Jesus will take your weary and burdened heart and give you rest. You don’t see rest yet, but you will.
4) Walk in community. The very first time that the Bible records God saying something is “not good” is in Genesis 2:18: “The Lord God said, it is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him. “ (NLT). God made Adam because he knew it was “not good” for Adam to be alone. We (literally) were made for community. We need each other.
Take these four steps on the road towards rest, with your eyes fixed on Christ and your ears open to his calling. And while you are walking, you’ll hear the words of the Savior as he calls and says “Come to me….I will give you rest.” And take a look around you as you are walking. You’ll find people, just like you, who are weary, burdened and fearful, walking towards the rest that only Christ can give. We’ll see you on the road.
May God give us all rest today.
*Book Recommendation: Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund. One of the best books I’ve read in this season of life. https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Lowly-Christ-Sinners-Sufferers/dp/1433566133
Wow! I love your descriptions of how you each handle exhaustion and your prescription is simple and beautiful. We have a wonderful community because of Christ!
We are so proud to know you❤️
Thank you so much for sharing these heart felt, soul lived words with us with such clarity as can come only from one who is walking through this. I especially liked the advice to “ask Him to help you give your burden to Him.” and “you don’t see the rest yet, but you will”. Such wise advice for those of us who would call ourselves “older” Christians and yet when hit with a burden a reminder that we don’t always have it all together but continually come to Him who knows our need.