Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].

Matthew 11:28

In a recent poll, large segment of Americans were asked the simple question, “How are you doing?” The number one answer given by thousands of respondents was simply, “Tired.”

We’ve been had. Years ago, technology promises to make us more efficient so we could have more leisure time and more time with our families, but it hasn’t worked out that way. Amazing advances in technology have made us far more efficient and productive, but our thirst for more has caused us to cram our schedules full of additional activities. Many families are so busy that they don’t even have one dinner together each week! No wonder we’re so tired.

The solution, we’ve tried to tell ourselves, is better time management or the latest technology, but that hasn’t worked either. No, we need something radically different- a new focus with new priorities. Jesus invites us to come to Him. He doesn’t promise to give us twenty-five hour days or magically enable us to get everything checked off our lists each day. Instead, He invites us to trust Him and rest, to enjoy His love and let Him lead us so that we distinguish the genuinely important from the seemingly good. Trusting in Him makes a difference, a big difference.

Zig Ziglar

What worries you, masters you.

Hadron Robinson

We can read what Jesus said in Matthew 6:

Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

Matthew 6:31-33

as some spiritual hype or we can take Him serious and apply His teaching. We are triune beings- body, soul, spirit and each part of our being affects the other parts. When we are physically tired, it wearies our souls and drains our spirits. When our hearts are weary they affect our health. When our spirits are empty they can affect our physical, mental and emotional health. We are an inseparable triune being.

Jesus doesn’t give us some magical formula, but He gives us principles for living.

He said that if we want the things of life we begin by seeking the kingdom of God. After all God is the source of all things. Sometimes we forget that everything that was created was created by God. As His children, Jesus said that if sinful human parents love to give good things to our children, how much more will our Heavenly Father lavish us with gifts.

We can choose to jump on the treadmill of life and turn up the speed hoping to get everything we want from life, but most of the time we find ourselves working harder to buy things that we don’t have time to enjoy. On this treadmill that moving so fast it becomes more and more difficult to enjoy anything because we become so driven. Long hours and lengthy workweeks leave us worn out and even when we get a break, we’re too tired to enjoy it.

So Jesus calls us aside for a time of refreshing and renewal. Some see church attendance as a duty or another chore to check off their list of things to do. But worship times ought to be times of recharging and refueling us. They ought to be times of rest where we can leave our burdens and troubles with the Lord who invites us to come and let Him bear our burdens. Worship ought to be a time to reflect and consider our goals and activities and priorities.

At the end of all things, we as humans have some commonalities. No matter what kind of a career you have or pursue, there will come a time when you won’t be able to do your job. No matter how many pleasures you pursue, there will come a time when they lose their excitement. No matter how much money you earn and whatever you use it for will come to an end for we can take none of it with us. One thing is sure, death will come to everyone and eternity somewhere waits for all. Here is where commonalities end. Those who choose to make seeking the kingdom of God their priority will spend eternity with Christ in heaven. Those who choose to make the things of this world their priority do so at the expense of their souls and their eternity will be one of horrible suffering and want.

What I’ve learned is that when you make God’s business your first priority, God will make your business His business and I don’t know how it happens but somehow in the process you become blessed beyond measure- in this life and in the life to come.

So if life has worn you out, turn off the devices and find a quiet place and wait for God. You’ll be amazed at how refreshed and rested you’ll feel.

Dr. John Thompson