Saved by His Grace

Exhausted. Overwhelmed. Drained. I know those feelings all too well. I’m sure a lot of us do. However, praise the Lord, there is Rest for the weary and His name is Jesus Christ.

At times, I’ve unfortunately allowed myself to forget to come to Him immediately for help in the midst of stressful seasons. I’ve tried to do it on my own, and in the I past, I became physically sick from the stress and anxiety that I neglected to give to Him.

In the midst of stress, I have forgotten all of the Word I had stored up in my heart, allowing the enemy to steal it away (Matthew 13:22). As a result, I became carnal and neglected to control my tongue and my emotions. I became like a city broken down without walls (Proverbs 25:28), a proverb I had read countless times.

Run, Don’t Walk, to the Prayer Closet

How easy it can become for us to forget the crucial wisdom of Apostle Peter, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

As the times draw to a close, we need to turn to Him more than ever, with no hesitation. Our “I’m too busy right now; I can’t afford to stop and take a break” needs to change to us running to the prayer closet immediately and crying out, “Father, I can’t do this on my own. I desperately need your help. Please help me and calm my troubled mind, and give me Your peace that surpasses all understanding, Lord.”

Many people neglect quality time in the prayer closet, thinking a couple prayers throughout the day will suffice. Trust me, you need to seek the Lord in prayer a lot more; you must develop an intimate relationship with Him. I know I must be far more intentional about seeking Him in prayer and drawing closer to Him.

Often, that old-man mentality of “I can do it all on my own” still rears its ugly head. It’s sometimes not until the weight of stress and exhaustion feels soul crushing that I seek His face. We can have a bad habit of waiting and then come to Him, crying like a child that refused to let their father help them and then realized late how much they needed help.

A devotional* I recently read said this, and I wholeheartedly agree: “Prayer is the respiration of a Christian—the release of toxic worry and the intake of God’s life-giving, undeserved mercy. Prayer is our lifeline; it’s oxygen to our souls, supplying us with life and vitality.”

Recently, when I started feeling overwhelmed and stressed, I went immediately to the prayer closet. I gave all my worries to the Lord and stayed there until I have given all my heavy burdens to Him.

While in the prayer closet, I could feel His loving presence wrapped around me, and I stayed there for about an hour, not wanting to leave. I walked out feeling an incredible sense of peace, a peace that surpasses all understanding that only He can give.

The Word Refreshes Our Weary Soul

Beyond intimacy with the Lord in prayer, reading the Word is such a remedy for the spirit that is depleted, or spiritually malnourished (see Matthew 4:4).

Not long ago, I went through a week where I was caught up in my flesh more than I should have been, and it left me feeling extremely overwhelmed and stressed. By the end of that week, I had become physically sick and realized I needed to just stop, be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

My spirit had been drowning that week because I had been obeying the flesh and overindulging in carnal things like food and binging TV and movies. But, when I stopped to spend quality time in the Word, my spirit was being restored, chapter by chapter.

Before I knew it, I had read 30 chapters and felt so much better. Because rest in the Word was exactly what the Great Physician was prescribing for me.

Come to Me, all you 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. –Matthew 11:28-29 (NKJV)

So, the next time you feel exhausted, drained or overwhelmed, stop, be still, cry out to Him in prayer and spend quality time in the Word. Don’t just read a verse, passage or one chapter and call it a day. No, read a few chapters.

If you are still feeling the same, read a few more chapters. Don’t stop until you recognize that your spirit has been restored and nourished. He is our Daily Bread; allow Him to nourish you fully.

Until next time, Lord willing, shalom to my brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope you have a blessed week and rest more in Him throughout the week.

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*Devotional from Word before World: 100 Devotions to Put Jesus First (Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)