JESUS ISN'T EXHAUSTED. YOU ARE.

My grandmother was a saint of a Godly woman, whose mastery of the English language was limited. When she tried to speak to her grandchildren she would say a sentence in English, and then speak in her native tongue to her daughters - and they would explain exactly what she was trying to say. 

One of her favorite phrases in English was simple:  "The spirit is the spirit and the flesh is the flesh."   What she meant is that no matter how much a woman wants the things of God, wants to hear God's voice through His Word and through prayer, wants to be the kind of wife and mother God intends for her to be  - a tired body trumps a willing spirit every time.  Jesus explained it to His disciples who were too sleepy to stay awake and pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, "The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mark 17:38)

I would like you to consider something.  Don't dismiss your constant exhaustion as something non-spiritual in nature.  Maybe one of the tricks of the trade of the Enemy of The Family is not always something as obvious as adultery, pornography, financial woes or a meddling mother-in-law.  Maybe?? Maybe??? He creates a lifestyle that so exhausts us that no matter how willing our spirits may be... OUR FLESH IS TOO TIRED TO CARE.

Could be the reason that one of Jesus FIRST invitations was to EXHAUSTED PEOPLE.    He said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."  Matthew 11:28-30.

The exhaustion was two-fold: people who were weary of religious ritual and peole who were exhausted from hard labor.  He promised that when an exhausted person simply comes to Him... comes to His side.. He will give that person rest.  You don't have to sign up for a ten-week course with homework about "LEARNING HOW TO REST." Nope.. He simply gives you a coffee break from life IF YOU WILL SIMPLY GO TO HIM.

Second... those verses tell us that if, after we simply come to Him,  we then begin to life a LIFESTYLE of being yoked to Him, leaning on Him, letting Him lead... the rest will actually TAKE RESIDENCE in our souls.  In other words, you and I will find the peace we crave because it will become part of us in our very soul.

Dear sweet exhausted woman, just cry out to Jesus right now. Just tell Him, "HELP. I AM EXHAUSTED."

And then... He will begin to show you the things in your life that are sapping your energy.  I have heard many well know Christian leaders say, "Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap."  I wonder if they knew my grandmother.

You cannot see life clearly through exhausted eyes.
Maybe the best advice you will hear is what I am about to tell you:
TAKE A NAP.
TAKE A DAY OFF.
CANCEL SOME COMMITMENTS FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
STAY HOME.
REST.

Eventually, your lifestyle will have to include RESTING YOUR BODY.
But today... take some time to let Jesus HOLD YOU.
Jesus isn't exhausted. You are.  He never runs out of strength.
Lean on Him.

I know it sounds old-fashioned and simplistic.
I am sorry if you feel that way.
However.. it's the truth.
LOVE YOU....
LOVE YOU....
Mrs. Older