I’ve been trying to get to the finish line, to the point where I’ve accomplished what He’s asked me to do. But I’ve come to this place of weariness…you know what I mean. Have you ever been in a place where you were striving to get somewhere, and then realized that you don’t have what it takes? You felt drained…like you needed to get whatever it is done, but you had no idea where to get the strength from?
This is the place that we find ourselves in when we carry the weight of the world on our shoulders…when we’ve come to the conclusion that if it will be, it will have to be by our strength. But we have to remind ourselves of where our strength comes from. We are not strong because of our ability to do anything. We are strong because we have a God that enables us to do everything…those things which He has given us to do.
The Holy Spirit gives us strength to do what God calls us to do.
Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. (Zechariah 4:6 NLT)
These are the words that the Lord spoke to Zerubbabel when He chose him to rebuild the Temple. He wanted Zerubbabel to have an understanding of his role in the process…that he didn’t have the strength to get this vast job done, and that he was only the vessel…the one chosen to accomplish the will of God in the earth.
When we do God’s work, we are acting as vessels.
This means that we’ve become the instrument that God uses to bring His will to the earth. But, our ability to accomplish His will is dependent on our use of His strength. This is so important for us to understand. Because if we don’t understand this, and remind ourselves of this, we will begin to think that we can accomplish the will of God in our own strength… and we will get burnt out doing so.
God expects us to draw on His strength for everything, even the smallest things in life…. the things that we wouldn’t think we need Him for. This includes our day-to-day responsibilities. This includes having the energy to go to work day in and day out…this includes having the wisdom to take care of the bodies that God has given us. We have to remember that as followers of Christ, everything that we do represents Him. We are called to express the light of Jesus in every aspect of our lives.
Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:17 AMP)
So, we must see how we need Him in everything. Even when it comes to our families. Being a spouse is a calling. Being a parent is a calling. God has called us to be leaders in our homes. He has called us to serve and love. He has called us to show our children how to trust Him, and obey His word. We are vessels, and He desires to use us in their lives. God has blessed us with the families that we have. And He expects us to steward over them. But, I can admit that this can be overwhelming at times. There have been times when I’ve found myself in a place where I felt like I had nothing left to give, but this was an indication that I was not drawing my strength from God. Because His strength is endless, and He enables us to do everything that He calls us to do.
Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 NLT)
In times like this, when we find ourselves at the point of exhaustion, we must remember where our help comes from.
I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! (Psalms 121:1-2 NLT)
This is intentional. We have to intentionally refocus ourselves, and remind ourselves of who the Helper is. Because our natural inclination is to rely on ourselves. But when we remind ourselves that the Lord is our strength, we can do those things that He has called us to do without carrying the burden of getting it done.
Then Jesus 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 NLT)
This is what I need, and I am sure that you need it as well. We need rest for our souls. We need the ease and lightness of Jesus in our lives. But did you notice that Jesus is asking us to make a choice? He is asking us to choose His rest, over our heavy burdens. He is inviting us to let go of the things that we are holding on to, so that we can receive His peace. And He says that we do this by taking on His yoke. But for us to understand the fullness of what Jesus is saying, we have to understand what a yoke is.
A yoke is a wooden beam that was used to join two animals together; so that, instead of one animal pulling a load, the two could pull the load together. They shared the load, so that each animal no longer had to carry the weight alone.
So, when we read Matthew 11, we have to understand that Jesus is inviting us to allow Him to bear the weight of our burdens. He is saying that He will make our load lighter, because He will take responsibility for the things that are too heavy for us to carry…those things that we were never meant to carry. And in exchange, He will give us His burden instead…His burden that is light…rest. But this takes intentionality.
We must intentionally choose to give our burdens to Jesus, and receive His rest.
So how do we do this?
By reminding ourselves of the truths that God has spoken to us in His word.
We must remind ourselves that the burden is not ours, but it is God’s.
God calls us, but He also enable us. He knows that we don’t have the strength, or the power…this is why He sends us His spirit. So, we must use His help. And we must remind ourselves that we are the vessel. We are the ones that God has chosen to do His work in the earth. He has chosen to use our hands and feet, but through the strength of His Spirit.
We must remind ourselves that God is for us, and He will enable us to do what He has called us to do.
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? (Romans 8:31-32 NLT)
Because God is for us, His favor and provision go before us. He will ensure that we have everything that we need when we need it. But, we must remember that God gives us provision by the day.
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:31-34 NLT)
This scripture has meant a lot throughout my journey of walking with Christ. Because I’ve spent so much time trying to figure out how things will work out in the future, but when I arrived there, I realized that God had already sent His provision ahead of me. So my worrying was for nothing…all it did was rob me of the opportunity to experience the peace and joy of God in that moment.
When we remember that God takes care of tomorrow, we are able to receive His rest for today.
I believe that this is a fundamental principle that God is trying to teach us. He wants us to learn to trust and depend on Him. And the way that He does this, is by putting us in situations where we have no choice. Just think about the story in the book of Exodus, when God gave the children of Israel manna in the wilderness. Each day, He sent just enough for them to eat, and He gave them instructions that they should only take what they needed for the day. If they tried to grab more, to store for later, the manna spoiled. This was God’s way of teaching them, and proving to them that He could be depended on.
We can rest in Jesus, when we understand that He takes care of the smallest of details in our lives. Everything that we could ever think of, He has already provided for. But it’s so much better than that. You see, God knows what we need before we do. He even knows about the things that we wouldn’t think of seeking Him for. So when we seek His kingdom first, trusting in Him, we have the ability to walk confidently, knowing that we will have everything that we need.
Whenever I get to a place where I am worrying about provision, I remind myself that I am right where I am supposed to be. I remind myself that I am in the will of God, doing what He asked me to do. And when I remind myself of that, I remember that God always provides for His will. And I remember that not only will He provide, but He always finishes what He starts.
We must remind ourselves that God always finishes what He starts.
I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. (Philippians 1:6 AMP)
We don’t have to worry about completing the assignment that God has given us. Because if it’s a work that He began, He will see it through! He will watch over all the details, and ensure that the word that He spoke comes to pass.
The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I watch over my word to accomplish it.” (Jeremiah 1:12 CSB)
We have to remind ourselves that when God does a work, it can’t be undone.
Everything that God does is established forever. This is why we need to depend on Him. We don’t have the ability to build like God; we don’t have the ability to make things last forever. Yes, we might be able to throw something together on our own, but everything that we do in our own strength, will have to be sustained in our own strength. But when God does something…no one can come against it; no one has the authority to add or take anything away from it. God has all authority.
“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” (Isaiah 43:13 NLT)
I know that everything God does will last forever; there is no adding to it or taking from it. God works so that people will be in awe of him. (Ecclesiastes 3:14 CSB)
We must remember the reason that God does works in the earth.
Ecclesiastes tells us that “God works so that people will be in awe of him.” When I think about this… the peace of God comes over me. So often, we struggle in our faith, because maybe we’ve seen God work in someone else’s life, but we don’t fully believe that He will work in our lives. I have been there before. But today, I want to tell you that He will come through for you. I know this because God reveals himself in the earth through His miraculous works. This is how He illuminated himself…this is how He brings glory to His name. He uses people like you and me. He loves when we bring our brokenness to Him… He isn’t afraid of it, because He sees our brokenness as an opportunity to reveal himself to us and all those witnessing our lives.
You don’t have to worry about whether or not God wants to use you…because that is why He created you…that is why you are here. He doesn’t need your strength; He doesn’t need your talent or your ability; all He needs is your yes. All He needs is for you to be willing to allow Him into your life, so that He can do what He does. You don’t have to worry about the specifics. You don’t have to carry the burden of bringing the promises of God to pass. Give your burdens to Jesus, and receive His rest. As you seek Him, and heed His instructions…He will lead the way. Because when we do our part, He does His part. And He never fails.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding me today that I was never meant to carry the burden of your plan for my life. Thank you for reminding me that right now, I can give my burdens to you, and receive your rest instead. Today, I choose to rest in you. I choose to remember that you are my God, and you are my strength. All of my help comes from you. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to enable me to do the things that you have called me to do. And remind me that I don’t need to do anything by myself, because you are always with me. Today, I choose to intentionally remember your word. I choose to remember that because you are for me, no one can be against me. I choose to remember that you always finish what you start. And I will rest in the fact that you chose me to be your instrument. I know that as long as my eyes are fixed on you, I will be where you have called me to be. If I have strayed, I pray that your loving hand would guide me back into the middle of your will. And I trust that as I seek your will, you will make everything work towards the purpose that you have for me. Thank you for never leaving my side, and for never giving up on me. I love you Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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