“My husband is going TDY tomorrow. He’ll be gone for 3 weeks,” she told me as her three kids ran around the room. Her statement was matter of fact, but I could see the weariness on her face.
I could almost hear a whispered pleading, “Tell me it gets easier when the kids get older. When he is not gone so much. When I have more time for myself. When we are at the perfect duty station.”
I could see myself in her because I have been there.
I’ve had the same longings. Weariness is a relentless drain on a heart. Wake up weary, go through the day weary, and fall into bed weary.
Exhaustion steals joy. It becomes the filter through which I see and do everything.
- Playing with the kids is no longer joyful because I’d rather take a nap.
- Cooking dinner becomes a chore.
- Doing laundry is a hassle.
Slowly but surely, my whole day is devoid of any joy, peace, or fulfillment.
As I looked into my friend’s eyes, I wished I could have told her that things will get easier when the kids grow up. But it doesn’t.
I wish I could say that when my husband is home more that my load gets lighter. Not so.
The truth is we never really have more time for ourselves because life happens. And the reality is that the perfect duty station does not exist.
What I’m Learning
Things don’t get easier over time. The secret I’ve learned is this: Life gets easier when we approach it with the right attitude.
“Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest.”–Matthew 11:28
It’s taken a long time for this promise of Jesus to become a reality in my life. I did come to Jesus, in prayers, in Bible studies, but I didn’t find rest. I came to Jesus among His people and served, but didn’t find rest.
“Come to me all who are weary 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
I came to Jesus, but I didn’t take his yoke.
I came to Jesus, but I didn’t learn from Him – I learned about Him.
I came to Jesus, but I wasn’t lowly in heart – I wanted MY way. Not His.
How I’m Learning
Talk to God as you apply His Word. When I feel weary and stressed, I spend time in prayer asking God to reveal to me what it is I am doing that is not part of His yoke.
Organize your schedule according to God’s priorities. I remember a time when my kids were little and I was serving in the church. I felt weary all the time until I reprioritized my life. My kids came first and I ended up serving less. The weariness went away because I was obedient to Him.
Pray before committing to serving others. Serving is important but we always need to prayerfully consider where, when, and how much we need to serve. Raising children and homemaking is serving Him. Loving your husband well is serving Him.
Think About It
So how do we truly find rest for our souls?
I’m learning the answer is to simply find full contentment in Him and Him alone.
Psalm 37:4 commands us to “delight ourselves in the Lord.” The simple act of acknowledging Him in our mundane daily tasks replaces the filter of weariness with joy.
I’m also discovering gratitude is a doorway for coming to Jesus with our burdens.
“Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”–Colossians 3:17
- Whenever we give thanks to God, we come to Him.
- Whenever we give thanks to God, we become lowly in heart.
- Whenever we give thanks to God, we seek first His kingdom.
Come to Jesus by giving thanks and you will find rest for your soul.
This military life will never be devoid of hardship, turmoil, heartache, or disappointment. But we can be free from the weariness they cause when we come to Him with thanksgiving.
All In
The truth is we are only truly free when we learn to rest in Him.
I find freedom to be All In when I rest my burdens in Christ.
Read the following verses and see how you can apply them to your life.
- Psalm 37:4
- Matthew 6:33
- Matthew 11:28
- John 10:10
- John 15:5
What area of life is most stressful right now?
How can you bring your burden to Christ? How can you express gratitude in the midst of your challenge?
Pray About It
Father, I am so grateful for your yoke. Please reveal to me the way I am disobedient to you. Help me be All In by fully and completely resting in you.
Join our Monday Periscope at 4 pm.
On our Monday Minute Periscope, we talk more in depth about the topic on our Monday blog. Chatting about scripture, military life, and practical ways to understand God’s word. Catch us on Mondays at 4 pm EST. Or catch the replay on our FB page.
This post is part of our Monday Minute linkup and we would LOVE for you to join us and our wonderful family of bloggers!
[inlinkz_linkup id=719171 mode=1]
