She wears weariness like fine China improperly handled on a cross-country move. If one looks closely, you might notice it in the flash of her eyes. The way her lips press together in a thin line. The lack of affectionate exchanges.

Usually adept at interpreting body language, I struggle to read this particular woman. She keeps me at arm’s length—avoiding conversation and eye contact.

And I wonder…does she know Jesus offers hope for the weary and broken-hearted?

 

What is the Meaning of ‘Come to Me All Who Are Weary’?

 

Most of us have read Matthew 11:28 (NLT), ‘Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” We may give the familiar verse a cursory glance, but if we plumb the depths of Christ’s words, we will discover rich relief.

Come to me.

Few other phrases represent a call to freedom in the same way as these three words.

Spoken by Jesus, “Come to me” is Christ’s call to salvation. An open invitation of hope for the weary. To those willing to shrug off the futility of living a good-enough life and accept the Son of God.

All who are weary.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, weariness may have a physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual source. Here, Jesus referenced weariness that resulted from daily struggles, the burdens of religiosity, and the expectations of others.

Oh, friend, to whom do you turn in your weariness? The call is for you. Jesus offers rest. Peace in the unreachable places of the human heart.

He invites us to abandon perfectionism and preoccupation for His presence.

Three Prayers of Hope for the Weary

 

A Prayer for Strength When You are at Your Weakest

 

Lord, I’m worn threadbare and feel as though I can barely make it through the day. Your word tells me “when I am weak, you are strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Father, only you can do “exceedingly abundantly above all” (Ephesians 3:20) I might request. Help me rely on you every moment and to remember you are my hope when I am weary.

Amen

A Prayer for the One with Chronic Illness

Jesus, you know I’m physically and emotionally tired. It is as if my body is in rebellion, Lord, and despite my best efforts, I am at a loss. I long for the vigor I once knew—when I could meet with family and friends as before. When I could enjoy the everyday joys of life without weariness weighing me down. Still, you are greater than any struggle or illness. I long to hear, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.” (Mark 5:34). If those words don’t come this side of heaven, Lord, help me to endure each day—”offering my body as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) and trusting you to work all things for my good (Romans 8:28).

In the powerful name of Jesus,

Amen

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A Prayer of Hope for the Spiritually Weary

Father, life’s unexpected trials have left me spiritually dry—longing for refreshment like the “deer that pants after water” (Psalm 42:1). I cling to you in a dry and weary land. Yet you reassure me that if I come to you, I “will never thirst again” (John 4:14).

Holy Spirit, would you sustain me when I fail to see the way beyond the difficult moments and remind me these “light and momentary troubles” (2 Corinthians 4:17) will one day be a faint memory? I may not be certain of tomorrow, but I am certain you have “plans to prosper me and not to harm me” (Jeremiah 29:11). Thank you, Jesus, that you are my eternal hope.

Amen

Note: To listen to an audio recording of this prayer, click this link.

I may not be certain of tomorrow, but I am certain you have “plans to prosper me and not to harm me”. #hopefortheweary Click To Tweet

14 Verses to Give Hope to the Weary 

 

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. (Hebrews 4:9-11 NKJV)

 

It shall come to pass in the day the Lord gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, (Isaiah 14:3 NKJV)

 

 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (Gen. 2:2-3 NKJV)

 

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31 NIV)

 

The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14 NIV)

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV)

 

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. (Psalm 37:7 NKJV)

 

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

 

Many of us, like fine China, need the Lord’s healing touch. He calls gently but with urgency, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

He knows your burden grows cumbersome, friend. Rest awaits. What are you waiting for?

Peace and grace,

Tammy

 

I sometimes link up with the following wonderful bloggers:

Mondays   Mandy and Michele/ Inspire Me Monday/Anita Ojeda Tuesdays InstaEncouragements Wednesdays  Recharge Wednesday / Tell His Story//Let’s Have Coffee /Sweet Tea and FriendsThursdays /Salt and Light/Simply Coffee and Jesus Friday FriendshipFriday/Blogger Voices Network /

 

 

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Tammy Kennington

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