Weariness

Have you ever said to yourself, “There’s more here than I can possibly do?”

Things came to that point last week when I realized I’d exhausted my ability to help and encourage others. It felt like everyone wanted a piece of me, but I had nothing left to give.

Jesus and his disciples experienced this. At times, so many people were vying for their attention, they couldn’t stop long enough to eat! But He said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31 (NIV)

Now we’re talking!

So they slipped off by themselves in a boat to an isolated place. But people figured out where they were going and took a shortcut–getting there ahead of them. The first thing Jesus sees when they land is yet another crowd.

Can’t you people just leave us alone?! We’re tired. We’re overwhelmed. We don’t have anything left to give. Please, go away.

What I’d say if I was in the boat with Jesus

But that’s not what He said

Christ had compassion on them, when He saw they were like “sheep without a shepherd.” In other words, He recognized how much they needed Him, and began to “teach them many things.” Mark 6:34 (NIV)

Somehow, Jesus knows the path to spiritual rest. It’s the only explanation for how He could keep giving and giving to the “pressure cooker” throng. He dealt with ruthless adversaries, and got by with little sleep or solitude. Yet Christ apparently never said, “I could just go back to being a carpenter.”

Confession: one month into my new leadership role, I’ve said to myself, “I could just go back to being a music teacher.” But, then again, I’m inspired by the single-minded devotion of Jesus to His mission–to lay down his life for His sheep.

For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:5 (NIV)

Nicola, from Eagle Sight shared a great post a few weeks ago called Running on Nearly Empty, Her astute point was that waiting until our giving tank is full, before overflowing to others, is a poor strategy. Like Jesus, we should lower the spigot. Please see the excellent illustration below, which I “borrowed” from Nicola’s post.

Kind reader, God can keep flowing through us, even when we’re almost empty.

He knows how to rejuvenate.

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

Jesus, Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Thank you for reading. prayers and love.

David Duncan is an ordained Southern Baptist minister turned elementary school administrator. He and his wife have three grown sons, but no grandchildren. They live in the Midwestern United States, with their Schnauzer, Cooper. David blogs at davidsdailydose.org, where he shares positive thoughts from a Christian perspective.

Image by DEEPAI