I’m pretty sure that on a weekly basis I get asked the same 5 questions: How are you? How’s work? How’s the ministry? When’s the next crusade? How’s school going? My 5 answers seem to be consistent: good, good, good, soon, good. But there is a question that I get frequently, and honestly, I don’t always have an answer: How do you do it?
These past few months have been very hectic. At work, I have been putting in A LOT of hours in order to finish a project. I have been meeting with ministry partners. I’ve been out preaching. I have family commitments. I have school work. I have responsibilities in the church, and I have my daily alone time with God. I know I am not the only one with a lot of things to do and little time to do them. I am sure that if I ask you the same question, you will give me a list of items that you have to do. Having said that, have you ever felt overwhelmed? Do you find yourself asking: where do I begin?
A couple of weeks ago, I felt very overwhelmed to the point where I couldn’t even do anything anymore. I felt the weight of all my responsibilities heavy on my shoulders. Then, I remembered one of the chapters in the book of Matthew, so I went back to read it.
“At that time, Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babies. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:25-28 NKJV]
I have read this passage multiple times before, but this time it hit close to home. I felt overwhelmed, but in Jesus I can find rest! That declaration is a great revelation! But what intrigues me the most is that this revelation was not given to the “wise” but to the “babies.” Sometime we want to use our own intellect and experience to find answers, when the answer is very simple: Jesus!
That same day I locked myself in my room, put some worship music on, and I asked God: give me rest. I must admit that after that prayer time, I felt refreshed, fully renewed! My time spent with God was very refreshing! I felt as though my strength was renewed and I felt motivated and ready to continue pressing forward.
Don’t let the daily responsibilities overwhelm you. Jesus asks you a simple question: Are you overwhelmed? Come to Me! Renew your strength and keep pressing forward!