Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:28-30

There are many signs when our bodies are tired and in need of rest. Fatigue, weakness, lack of concentration, and even sickness are some of the signs that we’ve pushed our bodies too far, and these signs are our bodies’ way of telling us, “slow down; you need rest.” You see, even the human body understands that rest is not only good, but it’s necessary for a healthy life.

Yet, how are we supposed to know when our souls need rest, and how do we actually find rest for our souls? Could it be that all the discontentment, discouragement, anxiety, incessant stress, and insecurities we all feel are some of the signs that our souls might actually be tired and in need of rest? When we experience these and other signs like them— ways in which we feel like our lives aren’t what they should be and we aren’t the persons we ought to be—could it be that that our souls are telling us, “you need rest”? The reality is that no amount of money, no relationship, no external change of circumstances can fully address those inner feelings, because again, it’s a problem with our souls needing a kind of rest that the things in this world can’t provide.

Jesus offers rest for the weary soul. Jesus understands that our souls will always feel lost in this world, and will go chasing after things that can’t offer rest or refuge. But to those who are tired of chasing the wrong things, he simply invites us to come into a relationship of rest with him. Because when we know and love him—the one whom our souls were made to know and love—we actually find the peace and rest our souls desperately need. Spend some time in prayer considering why your soul might be so tired right now. What are you chasing after, and what do you need to give up so you can start finding the rest that Jesus offers?