THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Lord, I’m waiting. Although I retired in 2015, I’m waiting—when does retirement begin? Things to do, places to go, joys of raising teenagers, etc.  At times I feel like I’m at the end of my rope. As a Christ follower, I know the first thing I should do is turn to You in prayer, but for whatever reasons, I don’t always do that. How many of my friends live this non-stop, rollercoaster lifestyle as well? Thankfully, Your patience never retires. You wait for me to bring my frazzled, overwhelmed self to You, where You always say the same thing: “I’ve been expecting you.”

Reading Your Word tells us this rushed, unending busyness is nothing new. The psalmist’s many duties demanded his constant attention and life became overbearing at times. Many folks, myself included, can identify with the psalmist when he felt like he was at the end of the earth:

“O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed …   for you are my safe refuge,”—Psalm 62:1-3 (NLT).

Lord, the plight of the people, just trying to keep life and limb together for one more day, stirred Your compassion. You gave the invitation to the hurried, the worried, the everybody-wants-a-piece-of-me–person that people expected to solve their problems.

“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,”—Matthew 11:28, 29

For all those weighed down with life’s demands, may we find peace, rest and restoration in You.

And thank You, Jesus, that You will never retire. Amen.