Bone Tired

 

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, 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 11:25-30 ESV).

 

The attached picture is from a scene in the film, Forrest Gump. The main character, Forrest Gump, has received some very bad news and he decides he will just run. In an improbable, but effective plot line he begins to run across the country. He does this over months gathering a crowd of followers. Finally he stops. The followers stop in amazement. They are waiting for some profound bit of wisdom from their “leader,” and he says, “I’m pretty tired now. I think I’ll go home.”  That’s the feeling of many. It is the penultimate expression of being “bone tired,” and, we’ve all been there at one time or another.

 

Like the fictional character of Forrest Gump, an elderly woman once shared with me that she was tired, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Her husband had recently been admitted into a nursing home, and she herself had cancer. She did not know how she could go on. She just did not have the strength. She felt utterly weary and burdened. In various degrees and for many reasons countless go through life feeling the same way. The last fifteen months have been like that for many.

 

If you find yourself in this place, don’t go it alone. Listen carefully to the Lord Jesus as he invites you to come to him to give you the rest you so desperately need. Jesus does not make false promises. He does not promise to take away all your troubles. But he does promise rest for your soul, the most important rest of all. He promises to help you bear the load of the burden you are experiencing.

 

I have found that the best way to relief from the burdens of life is to spend time with Jesus. The facility to do that is through finding your “cathedral.” That is the place you can best hear what God is saying to you through His creation. It may be any place, though it must be a place you can recognize the power of God as it is revealed. I find it especially easy to see in nature. The power of a sunrise or sunset is especially compelling for me. It is in this place that I can “come to Him.” It is here I can find strength and courage to meet the challenges of life. Try it. He guarantees it!