Come Unto Me

Some days I feel like a weary child whose life is confusing, whose days are hard, with little understanding of why. I need Jesus in those times not to explain or to offer up a grand scheme. I need Him, His presence, His goodness, His kindness, and His nail-scarred hands.

If I could, on those days I would curl up like a little child, close to the warmth of my Savior. I would come near to Him without speaking, and just settle down at His side. I believe He would smell like leather, like wood smoke, and like the sea. And sitting so near Him would settle my heart.

And some days I feel like an old man, so tired of trying hard and often failing that I need the touch of Someone older than time, the Ancient of Days, who will soothe my brow and let me rest. Maybe, I hope, I will hear Him whisper: “Well done.”

This is one of those days, Lord Jesus Christ. 

I'm glad You said, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

When You're Exhausted

A week or so ago I wrote in my journal: “Yesterday was a hard day.” And then I listed all the things I had done, and how exhausted I was. I don’t think I was feeling sorry for myself, but it was close.

Anyhow, the next day I was reading Luke 4, and I saw someone who had every reason to be exhausted.

I’m not sure how many days this represented, but it was a relatively short span of time in which Jesus:

•  Finished a 40-day fast
• Triumphed over Satan after an ongoing spiritual battle that lasted for nearly six weeks
•  Started teaching in the synagogues
•  Spoke at Nazareth, where the crowd first received Him with wonder, but then tried to kill Him
• Taught at Capernaum, cast out a demon, and achieved acclaim throughout the region
• Healed Simon’s mother-in-law
•  Healed all the demonized and sick who came to Him
• Tried to retreat but was followed by the crowd
• Started preaching in Judea

For 30 years He led a normal (albeit sinless) human life. He worked in the carpenter shop, took care of His mother, brothers and sisters, and went to the synagogue on the Sabbath. He didn’t heal, cast out demons, walk on water, or preach.

But all that changed when He began His three-year journey to Calvary. His life erupted in a flurry of activity: preaching, teaching, healing, casting out demons, confronting critics, comforting friends, and all the while walking in the shadow of the cross.

I admire Christ’s incredible devotion, diligence, energy, and endurance. I'm glad He knows how it feels when you're so tired you can barely lift your head.