God's Peace for When You Are Overwhelmed

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. — Matthew 11:28

God's Peace for When You Are Overwhelmed from God's Peace for When You Can't Sleep

It’s that time of night again. The house is quiet, the stars are shining against the blackened sky, and everyone is asleep. Everyone, that is, except you. Your mind is racing, shoulders still hunched with the day’s obligations, fists already clenched with the worries of what a new day will bring. In a word, you’re overwhelmed. Exhausted. Wondering when the to-do list will let up, when the financial pressure will finally subside, when your days will feel like less of a rat race. And so it begins every evening: the endless fight for sleep. As the hours pass, anxiety creeps in with the knowledge morning is drawing closer—and you haven’t yet slept. The day is dawning, but rest has only come in intermittent fits. In fact, you’re more exhausted than ever while lying in the rumpled mess of your sheets, trying, trying to ignore the ticking of the clock. Does this ring true for you right now? Are you letting out a whoosh of relief, thinking, Yes, I get it.That’s me. I am not alone! My friend, take heart. For the burdens you are carrying in your heart, mind, and body aren’t yours to bear alone. There is One who understands and is waiting to help you. Again and again, God reminds us in Scripture that through leaning on Him, we will find rest for our souls—our downtrodden, utterly wearied souls. Jesus Christ Himself doesn’t just tell us to give Him our burdens; He offers to take our burdens for us. He commands us, all of us who are weary and heavy laden, to come to Him and lay our burdens down. Not just half of them, not the ones that seem easily fixable—all of them. What He gives in return is like a cooling, soul-satisfying drink: He gives rest. As you reflect on these words, on the promises and call of the Lord, take in a deep breath. Exhale the stress you are holding, and breathe in the peace of God, letting the promises of His Word flood your tired soul. And then, as you close your eyes and lay your head down, know that He is right there with you; He is your rock, your strength, your ever-present help in times of trouble, even in the quiet hours of the morning. Cling to that rock! Prayer  Lord, You are the giver of rest. Help me trust that You have everything under control, and that my job is not to juggle everything, but to hand all of my burdens over to You, the all-powerful, able, strong God. * * * Excerpted with permission from God's Peace for When You Can't Sleep, copyright Thomas Nelson.