When You Are Tired Of The Pain

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

A number of years ago, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel performed a song called "Bridge Over Troubled Water" which reminds the listener that they have someone who will help them when their lives are troubled.  

 

What do you do when the hits keep coming and the hurts won't heal and you are on the brink of emotional collapse?  What do you do when you have become so angry, irritable, and frustrated all the time that you are snapping at everyone like an angry honey badger?  What do you do when you feel that you have nothing left to offer and you have reached the end of your rope?  

 

Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Let's put this into a little perspective...Jesus doesn't say "I might give you rest" nor did Jesus say "Take a number and I'll get back with you."  Jesus simply says, "Come to me."

 

When I was a child, I was not the epitome of grace and poise that I am today.  In fact, I was prone to fall down quite a lot, usually from an act of stupidity on my part.  When I did get hurt, I knew I could crawl up in my Dad's lap and he would comfort me.  Did he take the injury away?  No.  But I felt protected and at ease and comforted.  

 

Life isn't perfect.  We aren't perfect.  We hurt when people die.  We hurt when we get in trouble.  We hurt when others are cruel.  That pain is draining, and when it is compounded, we become like the boxer who has taken one too many punches.  Jesus offers us rest.  Why? Because He can, and because He has already seen the solution and knows our need for rest and restoration.  The lesson I have to learn every day (you'd think I'd have learned it by now) is that when I lean on Him and focus on Him, I am comforted.    

"And Then It Hit Me......And It Hit Me Again......"

Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!

Psalm 43:5

When I was in elementary school, I was one of those kids who had trouble sitting still and keeping quiet.  On one of my "talking during quiet time" incidences, the class was supposed to be working on an writing an essay.  I was caught talking to the person in front of me who wouldn't respond to me.  Since I was the one talking, I was sent to stand in the hall as punishment.  As if that was not enough, while I was standing in the hallway, my Mom (who was a substitute teacher at my elementary school) came walking around the corner.

I learned something about the physical properties of the human body that day: Try though you might, you cannot make yourself invisible.  My Mom saw me in the hallway, and immediately wanted to know why.  Upon hearing my reply, I heard those dreaded words, "we'll discuss this further when your father gets home."  This was the moment where your mind plays that dramatic BOM Bom baaaaaa.  And your stomach lets you know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you are in for a very bad day.

Ever had one of those days, weeks, months or even year when nothing seemed to go right?  Even feel like your life just keeps crashing down around you no matter how hard you try?

Ever feel like you're the punching bag for the heavyweight boxing champion to work his frustrations out on?

Me too.  And some days, it is physically painful to have to plaster on a smile and make everyone to believe you're okay.  Because, after all, being a believer means all our problems are solved and everything in our lives is just absolutely perfect.....right?

I wish I could tell you that being a Christian makes everything perfect.  But my experience has been quite the opposite.  In fact, there are points in my life where I am unsure why I'm still here.  But I can tell you this without hesitation: every single event that makes up my life has been for a reason.  The Master has taken this block of stone and has been chipping away in order to form me into who He has chosen me to be.  

Have I enjoyed it?  Hmmmmm.......NO!

Have I learned from it?  I've picked up bits and pieces here and there.

Have I ever been discouraged?  Uhhh.....YEAH!

But God has ALWAYS reminded me that He's got me, and THAT brings everything back into focus.

Too Tired? Too Weary?

Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke—for it fits perfectly—and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.

Matthew 11:28 

 

You've seen the look.  Perhaps you've seen it in others.  Perhaps you've seen it in the mirror.  The deep-set eyes rimmed with shadows, the energy drained out of every pore of skin, the distant gaze of the soul weary.  It comes from fighting to do what's right against the onslaught of the apathetic or those who are just determined that what is right is not going to happen.  It's the look we have when we have been hammered by life's situations for so long that we are wondering if another breath is worth taking.  We've worn the mask of "everything's okay" for far too long.

 

We need a break.  We need a rest.  We need time to be restored and recharged.  We need to be able to laugh again.  We need time to play.  We need to remember what Happy truly feels like.  Yet the toil continues without respite.

 

Look carefully at the words of Christ: "Wear My yoke - for it fits perfectly - and let Me teach you."  We struggle when we are trying to wear a yoke that doesn't fit us.  What happens if you wear shoes that are too tight?  Your feet hurt terribly and walking becomes difficult.  What happens if you wear shoes that are too big?  They rub your skin until blisters form and walking becomes difficult.

 

We have talked about the curse we have brought on ourselves called "Busyness."  The curse of busyness also brings the curse of an ill-fitting yoke. This is not the yoke that Jesus intends for us to wear.  Jesus intends for us to wear the yoke that fits perfectly which is found in relationship with Him.  And when we have relationship with Christ, we will experience Isaiah 40:31:

 

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
    They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
    They will walk and not faint."

 

Tired of being weary? I am.  

Humbled...There's Just No Other Way To Say It

When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
    the moon and the stars you set in place—
what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them?

~Psalm 8:3-4

The last several days have shown how destructive water can be; and how it can destabilize roads, homes, lives, communities, and even states and regions.  But I have seen a miracle during this time that I never thought I could see...in this time of distress, people are, for the most part, not concerned about themselves as much as they are concerned about others.  I have seen First Responders work themselves to the point of exhaustion and still push themselves to do more.  I have seen Utility Crews work feverishly to restore power and water, and they have gone far beyond expectations.  I have witnessed an overwhelming show of support from places not effected as much by the rain and flooding as South Carolina has been.

I spent a lot of time just listening and talking with people over the last few days.  And I have been humbled!  People who were displaced by the floods were not only grateful for the communities reaching out to help them, but many were more concerned for people other than themselves.  But the one event that broke my pride came when I gave a young boy a bottle of water and he handed me his teddy bear because he said I looked like I needed a hug. 

Tonight, as I look into the sky and give God thanks and praise for His love for us, it will be with a very humbled heart.  Why should God care about us when we have been so hateful and hurtful toward each other for so long?  In my opinion, He probably shouldn't.  If I were in His place, I would probably tell humanity: "Ya'll are on your own! I tried but ya'll just can't seem to get the fact that I love you so much that MY ONLY Son paid for your mistakes.  I'm out!"  But that's why God is God and I am not.

God not only put all the stars in their place and called them by their name, he put each one of us in place and called us by name.  He has recorded and collected all our hurts and tears.  He has counted every hair.  And He loves us and provides for us in the most remarkable ways through the most remarkable people.

I am humbled...there's just no other way to say it.  

Thank You to all who came to the aid of others in their time of need.  THANK YOU!!! And I thank God for each of you!