“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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Rest can be a hard thing to come by in today’s world. Between work, school, family, friends, and the many other directions we find ourselves pulled in, it can be easy to run ourselves ragged without taking the opportunity to stop and take care of ourselves. It seems like everyone is busier than ever, trying to find enough time in the day to get it all done. Scripture tells us that this might not be the healthiest mindset. In verses like Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells his followers that while their work of spreading the Gospel is important, they must also take time to rest and renew. Jesus himself would regularly retreat from the crowds and take time to himself in restful prayer. If the Son of God can do it, so can we.

We are at our best when our cups are full, and we can’t fill others’ cups when ours are empty. As followers of Christ, we are called to take care of each other, to love one another, and to be in community together. If we are running on empty, we can’t do any of that. To properly care for others, we need to care for ourselves as well. In this Lenten season, take time to refill your cup and find rest in the promise of Christ.

Prayer: Renewing God, be with us in this season of Lent. Encourage us to take proper care of ourselves, to be intentional with our time and energy, and to rest our souls in Your Word. Amen.