To the Girl Looking for More With Grace ValentineSýnishorn

More Peace: To the Girl Stressing Out

One night I was in the library at 2 a.m. cramming for finals. I was chugging Diet Coke, trying to teach myself irregular verbs in Swahili, and overthinking about the guy I was talking to. Then I began to cry— not just because of the boy or my tests. I was crying because of it all.

Maybe school is kicking your butt, or your friendships are on the rocks. Maybe your planner is full, and you feel like you can never stop. Maybe the rumors are exhausting, and you want one day without dumb drama. You might tell yourself these things aren’t a big deal, but when you try to carry them all, they get heavier and heavier.

It’s like a water bottle. It would seem light if I held a water bottle up in the air. Maybe I could hold it up for ten minutes. But if I tried to hold it up for two hours— yeah, that little bottle would feel heavy.

Jesus called the weary to bring their burdens to Him, and He promised rest. Notice He didn’t say, “Come to me all you who finished the year with a GPA higher than gas prices.” He didn’t say, “Come to me after you go hard, join all the clubs, and prove yourself.” He invited all who are “weary and burdened.”

You were not meant to carry your burdens. You can’t carry your burdens. But Jesus can. Instead of feeling stressed, give your stress to your Savior. Give Him your nerves, your fears, and your frustrations. Trade your load for the peace that comes from trusting your Savior with your concerns.

Find true rest in Jesus. Rest isn’t a prize you earn come Christmas break, graduation, or after winning that election. And rest isn’t sleeping in or practicing yoga. It’s releasing your burdens to Jesus and living in His peace. You don’t have to earn rest; Christ holds rest out to you.

So on the Tuesdays you feel overwhelmed, look down. See those two feet God gave you? They’ve walked many halls, through many overwhelming days, and through a lot of pain. God has walked with you this far; trust Him to continue by your side. Give God your burdens, and walk with the rest that comes from knowing the peace of God’s presence.

Dear God, I know I wasn’t meant to hold on to anything from the world. I give You my burdens. Help me see You, even when life is busy, and walk in Your rest. Amen.