Thursday thoughts: When you're weary, go to Jesus

Jill Johnson

I have come to the conclusion that being tired is a physical issue and being weary is an emotional one. There are remedies for both, but they are both different.”

Are you tired? I feel like I stay tired in my life. Tired as in need of sleep and rest. Maybe it’s my age but I just don’t sleep well. I wake up at least three times during the night and if I get a solid five hours of sleep I consider that a good night’s rest.

I am not necessarily worried or thinking about anything, I just have trouble resting. I hear myself say all the time, “I’m so tired,” and honestly I am but I don’t know that there is a remedy. I think there is just so much to be accomplished in a day that it leaves very little time for sleeping and then when you don’t sleep well, that’s just the way it is.

However, I heard a song lately called “Weary Traveler.” It made me think about the difference between being tired and being weary. I have come to the conclusion that being tired is a physical issue and being weary is an emotional one. There are remedies for both, but they are both different.

Tired to me is when I am physically exhausted. It might be because I have worked hard in the yard or cleaning house. It might be because I have not physically slept well. It could also be because I have been so busy I physically have not had time to stop and take a break.

I am sure I can (and maybe should) slow my schedule down and make more time to rest. I should be responsible to manage my physical wellbeing. I could probably sleep better if I ate healthier, exercised, watched my caffeine intake and many other things. In other words I could take measures to change some “not so good” lifestyles to help me sleep better and not be physically tired.

Weary is a different thing altogether. I can remember so many times in my life when I have been weary. Weary is when you are exhausted in strength of emotion and endurance. It is that heavy feeling when you feel like you have had all you can carry and can’t take one more thing. Weary is when you are so overwhelmed it’s hard to think. It’s when it feels like it takes energy just to breathe.

Have you ever been there? I have for sure! I know people who are weary because they are dealing with a sickness or caring for someone who is sick. I know people who are weary because they have enormous financial burdens. I know people who are weary because they have lost a loved one and their life has drastically changed. I know people who are weary because of broken or difficult relationships.

Those are all BIG things that effect your emotions and that makes you weary. However, sometimes it’s not just one thing but it’s all the little things that can make you weary. I feel like I can be in this category a good bit of the time. I don’t know about you, but I seem to handle the big things much better than the little things that hit one right after the other. Since January 1st we have dealt with my husband being out of work and ultimately having to file for disability, multiple cases of strep throat and stomach bug with our granddaughters, the sudden death of a nephew, almost daily issues with our daughter who is disabled, some emotional challenges with family members, not to mention just the everyday occurrences from work, home, kids, grandkids, life, etc.

Each of these instances on their own would not necessarily make one weary but all of these instances together can exhaust your endurance and your strength of emotion. The ONLY remedy for weariness is the Lord.

Believe me when I say I could not handle the weariness of this life alone. I have tried, and it doesn’t work, at all! I certainly don’t want to consciously put myself in that position so I give myself reminders often. I was not made to carrythese situations that cause weariness alone! 

Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” It doesn’t say go to anyone but God. He is our only and best option. He can carry that load for me and you if we just ask and then allow Him to do so. Don’t put it down at His feet just to pick it up again. I can you tell I’ve done this a number of times as well. I have to make a decision for myself that if I need rest for my weary soul I will go to Jesus! The words to the chorus of the song “Weary Traveler” are:

Weary traveler, restless soul
You were never meant to walk this road alone
It’ll all be worth it so just hold on
Weary traveler, you won’t be weary long

We are not made to walk alone. If you are tired, try to make changes in your daily physical routine to rest. If you are troubled, please ask others to pray for you. But if you are weary and need to lighten your load, only Jesus can carry your burdens, strengthen your soul and give you emotional relief. The question is who is your “go to” when you are weary? Trust Jesus, He alone gives strength to the weary and power to the weak.

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Jill Johnson, a staff member at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother and Georgian. She is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.