November 06, 2016

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Too Tired

"What kind of art are you currently working on?" I asked my cooperating teacher.  She laughed as she said, "I don't have the time or the energy to create my own art work anymore."   I think she saw the horror on my face and continued, "You'll see when you start teacher...you will not have the time, energy, or desire to create your own personal art."  I knew better!  I would never be too tired to create.  That is what we artists do.  It is who we are.  Even if I got married & had kids...I knew I'd still make time for my art.  Flash -forward 20+ years....I'm a husband, father of three young children, and an extremely involved art teacher.  I find myself exactly where my cooperating teacher foreshadowed.  
I try to convince myself that this is just a phase/stage of life.  I do desire to create, but fine myself too tired to do anything about it.  

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.  Matthew 11: 28-30

Life is busy.  We find ourselves over committed, multitasking, filled with all the good things we can pack into it, trying to be the best at EVERYTHING, and taking little to no time to slow down & rest.  Though we often associate this with our work & home lives.....our spiritual lives can fall victim to this or the results of this way of living.  We can start consuming & managing our walk with God like we do the other areas of our lives, or we can find ourselves so exhausted from everything else...we don't have the energy grow & serve.  We could try to excuse it away as a "phase"...or that God understands that we're too tired for ________ , but is that what we should be doing as men & women who say we know the Lord?  If we find ourselves in this situation...God is calling us to re-evaluate & re-energize through these verses in Matthew 11.  He is telling us to take HIS yoke upon us (WHAT? That sounds like more work?!?).  He also is telling us that by doing so...we will learn from him.  I think what we learn is what is important to him.  We carry so much more than we were designed to do.  We have prioritized things in our lives that are not truly priorities.  These "priorities" distract us from what is truly important & what we were truly designed to do.   His yoke is easy & his burden is light.  Sounds like by taking this yoke...we will no longer be too tired or too distracted to fulfill the life God has for us.  

2 comments:

  1. Definately where I am right now. Busy. Tired. But thank God, I have the One who gives me strenghth!

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