Hurried and Weary

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   Over the course of the last couple of weeks my schedule has been quite busy, busier than normal. The irony, in some ways, is that two of the items added to my schedule were designed to provide times of rest for those who were participating in them. I attended prayer retreats in different locations in back-to-back weeks. Saying yes to these events meant pushing other items on my usual schedule to later in the week. 

   On my way home from Newport, I began listening to an audiobook by Brian Croft and Ronnie Martin entitled, The Unhurried Pastor. In the introduction to the book, Brian Croft observes two reasons for pastoral burnout. First, he acknowledges that pastoral ministry is just hard. He goes on to say, "But second, the modern way pastors engage with their ministry is unsustainable in the long-term. ...in our work with many depressed, burned-out pastors, we see that the common link between them is an inability to see their limitations and embrace them. Whether it's because of the expectations placed by our church's culture or our own internal drive (or a combination of the two), too many of us operate as if we are superhuman. the problem is that we are not superhuman."

   This isn't necessarily a problem unique to pastoral ministry. We can find ourselves under the pressure of internal and external expectations that are not biblical. While we may say that we believe in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, we act as if we believe in salvation by faith plus works. We take on more of a burden than we rightly should bear.

   In Matthew 11:25-30 Jesus says, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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."

   In a culture that defines effectiveness by busyness, that tells us it's better to burnout than to rust away, remember that we are called by God to rest, to offload our burdens on Him, and to learn from Him. 

Come you weary heart now to Jesus.

Come you anxious soul now and see.

There is perfect love and comfort in your tears.

Rest here in His wondrous peace.