Happy Sabbath, friends!

I am going to be honest — this week’s Sabbath message did not immediately come to mind. I sat with my laptop in front of me experiencing some writer’s block until I finally surrendered the moment to the Lord and asked Him to make known what message He wanted me to share this Sabbath.

Almost immediately, I began reflecting on how my week had gone, and two words came to mind: surrender and rest.

Last weekend, I was in New York City and barely got any sleep because there was so much to do and see. It was such a blessed time, but once I returned to normal life, the sleep deprivation caught up with me. My body and mind were exhausted, and I felt as though I was running on empty for much of the week.

Each day, I found myself looking forward to the Sabbath because I knew it would bring an opportunity to step away from the busyness of everyday life, slow down, and spend intentional time surrendering and resting in the presence of Jesus.

Today’s message is centered on surrender and rest because I know I cannot be the only person who has experienced an exhausting week or a season when life simply feels like a lot to carry.

God knows this too. Throughout His Word, He repeatedly invites His children to bring their burdens to Him and find rest in His presence.

Sometimes, we simply need to put the world on pause and plug into the Word.

Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV)
““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.””

Bring It To Him

Our Heavenly Father never intended for us to carry our burdens, exhaustion, or busyness entirely on our own. He desires for each of His children to surrender these things to Him and trust Him with what comes next.

And what we bring to God does not always have to be a major trial, tribulation, or hardship.

Sometimes, we are simply tired.

Sometimes, our minds are overwhelmed.

Sometimes, we do not know how we are going to make it through another busy day.

Those things matter to God too.

We do not have to wait until our circumstances become unbearable before turning toward Him. We can bring Him the smallest burden just as willingly as we bring Him the largest one.

The Garden Of Gethsemane

One story that came to mind while reflecting on exhaustion and surrender was Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Shortly before His arrest and crucifixion, Jesus brought Peter, James, and John with Him and asked them to keep watch while He went away to pray.

Matthew 26:36–46 (NIV)
“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!””

The disciples were exhausted, and despite Jesus asking them to remain watchful, they fell asleep. Jesus even acknowledged the struggle between their willing spirits and their tired bodies.

But what stands out to me most in this story is what Jesus did with the tremendous weight He was carrying.

He prayed.

Jesus was experiencing deep sorrow and anguish, yet He went directly to His Father and surrendered Himself completely to His will.

That is the example we should follow.

When we are exhausted, overwhelmed, hurting, or uncertain, our first response does not have to be trying harder on our own. We can turn toward our Heavenly Father and surrender what we are carrying to Him.

God should remain first in our hearts and minds. Even in moments when we feel completely drained, He still wants to hear from us, strengthen us, and walk beside us.

We were never meant to carry everything alone.

Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Psalm 62:5–8 (NIV)
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

Strength For The Weary

This story resonated with me personally because I will admit that I had a difficult time waking up early this week to spend time with Jesus.

There was one morning when I gave in to my exhaustion and chose to continue sleeping rather than beginning my day with our Heavenly Father. When I eventually woke up, I felt disappointed because I had missed that quality time with Him, and I noticed how much I missed beginning my morning grounded in His presence.

Yet on the mornings when I did make that time with Jesus, something felt different.

I entered the day reminded that I did not have to depend entirely upon my own strength. I could surrender the day ahead to Him and ask Him to provide whatever strength I needed to walk through it.

And now, Sabbath has arrived.

After a long and exhausting week, God gives us sacred time to slow down. For 24 hours, we are invited to step away from our ordinary work and responsibilities and intentionally rest, worship, and spend time in His presence.

What a gift.

Following God will not always feel easy. There will be days when exhaustion, temptation, responsibilities, or distractions compete for our attention. But no matter how small or large the burden may seem, we can continually return to the One who gives strength to the weary.

Isaiah 40:29–31 (NIV)
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Lay It All Down

Maybe you are entering this Sabbath completely exhausted.

Maybe the exhaustion is physical.

Maybe it is emotional.

Maybe you are carrying a decision, a disappointment, a relationship, a responsibility, or something you have been trying desperately to control.

Whatever it may be, you do not have to carry it through another day by yourself.

Surrender it.

Place it into the hands of the One who already knows what tomorrow holds.

Then allow yourself to rest.

I pray over each and every person reading this message that we may choose to surrender ourselves to You, Lord, so that we may be filled with Your peace and rest.

There will be moments in our lives when we face difficult trials, temptations, shortcomings, exhaustion, and uncertainty. Yet we praise You because You remain willing to carry our burdens and walk beside us so that we never have to face them alone.

Thank You for the love and strength You continually provide when we choose to follow You.

May we be renewed as we surrender what we are carrying and rest in Your presence.

Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Amen.