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By Dean Kelly

You come in at night and you fall into your bed. Your body actually aches even though it feels good to be enveloped in the covers with your head finally nestling in that welcome pillow’s softness. You know what it means to be weary.

Weariness comes in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes it is that physical weariness that comes from a long day (or week) of effort and work. Sometimes it is a mental weariness as the world tears at our hearts, minds, and souls and wears us down. All of us have experienced it.

Jeremiah, the great prophet, is called the “weeping prophet” for a reason. He tried to warn the people of Judah of the destruction that was coming on them because of their rebellion toward God. Sometimes, in the midst of the despair that came to Jeremiah as he warned the people, God would give him a glimpse of hope.

“For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul” (Jeremiah 31:25). God would eventually comfort the weary soul.

Also, in the book of Lamentations (which means crying or weeping) in the midst of some very sad and powerful condemnation of the people of Judah, Jeremiah records these words: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ’The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
Therefore I hope in Him!’” (Lamentation 3:22-24).

Jesus said these words to weary humanity: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am  gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). 

We can find true rest, now and in eternity, if we will meet Him at the cross.

Dean Kelly is minister at Highland Home Church of Christ.