Shine BrightSample

Day Seven: Burned Out

You can’t see, smell, or taste stress, but everyone feels it—and pretty regularly at that. Being stressed out affects even physically healthy people.

That’s one reason Jesus’s invitation in Matthew 11: 28 appeals so much: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Many students and young career professionals are so routinely exhausted that when they have a moment to rest, they can’t imagine doing anything beyond zoning out with their phones.

If you’ve ever felt like life is too much to bear, that the weight you carry is too heavy for you, or if you’ve ever felt worn down by stress and exhausted by people’s expectations of you, Jesus offers a different way forward. He invites you to find rest for your souls, to learn the unforced rhythms of grace. So many of us push ourselves to the point that we don’t know what it means to be “unforced.” It’s time to learn!

One of the ways we lean into and accept Jesus’s invitation is by learning to listen to His voice more than any other. In the verses that follow Matthew 11:28, Jesus continues, “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” (vv. 29–30). God doesn’t put any weight on us that He won’t help us bear if we seek Him. His expectations are not unrealistic. He knows exactly who He created us to be, and He wants to help us thrive within His beautiful design. 

When you listen to God’s voice and follow where He leads you, you can leave stress behind. You’re not “yoked” (burdened by, tied to) the world’s expectations any longer. Jesus is gentle with you. You find stillness and quiet for your soul. Doesn’t that sound great?

We know it’s not easy to silence the voices of our culture and even the voices in our own minds. Those voices are often distorted by our sinful nature and not in tune with God’s Word. If you want to listen to God’s voice, it will take an investment of your time, but it’s so worth it. You don’t have to be weary and burdened any longer.

God commands us to listen in Luke 9:35. Is there a difference between hearing someone and listening to them? How would listening to Jesus impact your faith and your stress level?