When I come into the house after a long day taking care of our garden, animals, property, or working on projects in the near 100-degree South Carolina heat, no one has to tell me I’m tired. I know I need a shower and a good night’s sleep so that I’ll be rested and ready for the next day. However, physical weariness is not the only kind of fatigue we face. Mental fatigue is less obvious. It results from a lot of brain activity—writing a school paper, figuring out complex problems at work, research, keeping up with all our family needs, etc. Yet, the greatest cause of mental fatigue comes from worry. Questions like, Why? What if? How? What am I going to do? When God?, constantly occupy our thoughts. Worry can exhaust us. A third type of weariness, far more subtle and dangerous, can creep up without us even being aware—spiritual weariness. One day we realize we are tired of doing, tired of serving, and tired of trying to please. The joy of serving has left us.
Worldwide today people are beat down and worn out by the everyday struggles of life. Mentally, they are tired and most likely, have grown spiritually weary. I was surprised how prevalent the subject of weariness is in scripture. Jesus came to a people worn out under the heavy load of the endless rules demanded by the Pharisees. Jesus extended an invitation to them, Come to Me, all who are weary . . . (Mat 11:28). Weariness wasn’t new to Israel. Isaiah told the people that even the strongest could be overwhelmed by a troubled world, Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall (Isa 40:30 NIV). Paul cautioned two churches, But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good (2Th 3:13).Let us not become weary in doing good (Gal 6:9 NIV).
Isaiah and Jesus both included solutions for weariness. Jesus saw a people who were laboring to live up to what the Jewish leaders taught would please the Lord. I can assure you, “I’ve been there, done that, and got the T-shirt.” Note His wording; Come to me with the emphasis of the word ‘Me’. He did not send them to the Temple, to a synagogue, or to any other person. Weary people must come to Jesus. When they do, He promises rest. He then commands them to take His yoke. The imagery of a weary person putting on a yoke appears contradictory. The people were already under the heavy yoke of the Pharisees’ laws. Yokes do symbolize a burden in numerous uses in scripture, yet it also, as here, means submission, service, and teamwork. My maternal grandfather plowed with oxen. He told me when training a young ox he yoked it to an older experienced ox. The older ox took the major load and the young ox just walked and learned. By taking Jesus’ yoke, we become laborers with Him. He takes the major load, and we walk and learn. To further assure us He adds, For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (v30). “Christ’s yoke is like feathers to a bird” (Jeremy Taylor) rather than a burden, they lift and help us fly.
With the nation of Israel already captured by the Assyrians and Judah under the threat of Babylon, we can only imagine the worry in the minds of the people. Isaiah prophecies, Comfort, O comfort My people, says your God (Is 40:1). Isaiah had warned them all through his prophecies of their sins and the consequences of God’s judgment, yet he always counters that with the assurance of God’s ability and His promises of restoration if the nation would repent. He tells them, He gives strength to the weary . . . (Isa 40:29). The Lord never condemns the weary, even those who stumble and fall. He will renew the strength of those who wait for the Lord (v31). He adds the analogy; They will mount up with wings like eagles. Eagles live 30 to 40 years. They are able to live such a long life because they moult even in their older age. Moulting is the process when birds lose their feathers and grow new ones—literally restoring its youth. The imagery behind the verse provides an encouraging picture of what Isaiah is saying to us. One writer translates this “They shall put forth fresh feathers as eagles.” Again, they will rise high above the clouds far from the troubles of the earth.
Even in our weariest times, God is working. Elijah sat under a juniper tree, afraid, tired, and exhausted wanting to die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life Lord” (1 King 19:4 NIV). Instead, God sent an angel who cooked him a loaf of bread, brought a jug of water, and told him to eat and drink. God can work all things for our good—even our weary times—when we are tired of doing, tired of serving, and tired of trying to please. He can cause you to moult, put on new feathers and soar like eagles
Sustaining Word for the Week: Are you weary and had enough? Come to Jesus; let Him bear the weight of your burdens. Then wait on Him while He does His work and He renews your strength.