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. Matt. 11:28-29 (ESV)
He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Isa. 43:2 (NLT)
Dear Lord Jesus, we praise you for perpetually presiding at the throne of grace, and for doing so with so much joy, gentleness, and burden-bearing love. When we feel our weakest—when we feel like “flickering candles” you don’t judge us us, you lavish compassion on us; you don’t roll your eyes with disgust, you open your arms with delight. You promise us a rest you alone can give, and we are ready to receive.
We bring you the weariness that comes from seeking to love well. We bring you our fatigue born from our stories of grief and loss, care-giving and criticism-taking. Jesus, help us to accept the reality of our emotional depletion and mental tiredness. No aspect of our lives is more delightful and more depleting than our relationships. As parents, spouses, and friends, grant us grace, wisdom, and strength, Lord Jesus. Give us thick skin and big hearts for staying present and engaged.
We bring you the exhaustion we feel from having longer “to do” lists than there are hours in the day. Sometimes the sheer “demanding-ness” of life makes us want to get a one-way ticket to a far away place. But since that would solve nothing, we ask for wisdom and grace, to choose between the critical things and the less important things.
And, Jesus, please grant us the gift of good, deep, restorative sleep; and free us from our reliance on the stimulants of caffeine and sugar, activity and the approval of people. We trust your for all the grace, friends, and strength we will need, for the days and demands in front of us. So very Amen we pray, in your kind and trust-worthy name.
