“Okay, that’s all. I hope you’re good. Heh . . . that’s all . . .”
A few weeks ago, my best friend left me a long, rambly message about the latest struggles she was facing. To be clear, I always want long, rambly messages from her, just as I always want to hear about her struggles. I tell you merely to set the scene.
After explaining the difficult things that had been going on in her world, her voice faded out for a moment. Then she took a deep breath and said, “Okay, that’s all. I hope you’re good.” Before she stopped recording, though, she chuckled and muttered, “Heh . . . that’s all . . .”
As I sat in silence after listening to that message, I got a case of the giggles. That’s all, she said. As if any given day — in our current, complicated lives — does not contain multitudes. The thought is laughable!
Like you, she and I are constantly facing a multitude of situations, challenges, emotions, ways our bodies are betraying us or our people are frustrating us. In no way can any message summarizing any of it be adequately described as “that’s all.”
One of my favorite trendy phrases found in social media posts, podcast episodes, and even books is when a person writes or says, “gestures wildly” after saying, “all this” or “all the things.” It seems that, collectively, we have lost the ability to put into actual, descriptive words how incredibly overwhelmed we are with the nonstop tsunami of life.
While I do think the increasingly fast pace and full calendar most of us live with (as well as, say it with me, “these unprecedented times” that apparently are just the norm now) bear much of the blame for our overwhelm, I think we’ve also allowed ourselves to take on the burden of shame for simply existing in this weird season.
Motivated by the kindest intentions (or at least that’s what I’m choosing to believe), those speaking to women today frequently say things like, “You’re taking on too much. You’re doing too much. You’re expecting too much of yourself.” They urge us to minimize, to streamline, to delegate – so we can breathe and heal and perhaps even grow.
These are wonderful sentiments. And if that’s the word you need today, please take it in and go forth. We all go through times where we absolutely need to prune everything but the most important and take life one minute at a time.
But if you are in a stage where you have accumulated a list of responsibilities that is both unavoidable and more than any one person can handle, you don’t have to feel bad about that.
If your mind races with a to-do list that can never be done but must be done, creating a constant undercurrent of panic . . .
If your heart pounds when you remember that you are the last defense, the only emergency contact, the one holding all the details and logistics that must not be forgotten or overlooked . . .
If you wish for a backup or a substitute or an assistant, but simply do not have anyone . . .
If you truly cannot let any of the balls you’re juggling drop right now because every one of them is mandatory…
I hear you. I see you. I am with you. I am you!
More importantly, though, Jesus is with us. He’s with us, He understands us, and He does not want us to feel ashamed by the staggering weight of our burdens.
No, He is our Friend who understands truly what it feels like to carry the entire world on your shoulders. He is also our Example — the One who shows us that taking a nap or stopping for a snack won’t, in fact, topple that world right off its axis. And, here’s the best part of all: He is our Hero, our Savior, extending His hand and saying, “Give it to me. You’re not alone anymore.”
Jesus is not discounting the importance or weight of what we are holding. He’s not wagging His finger or shaking His head at the way we’ve taken on too much or refused help in the past. He’s not offering us empty platitudes, advising us to just chill out and relax.
Jesus is offering to give us the tools to handle whatever life is piling on top of us. He’s offering to give us – the weary, the burned out, the ones keeping the lights on and the wheels turning – the relief we so desperately need.
He is offering us rest. Not just a break from the responsibilities, but freedom from the regret and the resentment and the fear that we are the only ones capable or available, that this season of overwhelm will never end, that we are so dang tired.
If summing up a report of your day or week with the words “that’s all” would make you laugh right now, you are not alone. We are in this together – you, me, my friend, and Jesus.
I pray that brings you a deep breath (in and out) of comfort and relief. I pray that brings you the kind of peace that allows your shoulders and your jaw and your mind stuck in overdrive to finally relax.
And I pray we can receive the rest the Lord wants to give us as we keep company with Him.
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Thank you a million times over! I am tired of people telling me to say no, to relax. When things get overwhelming, I do stop and pray, but then I go on. I know Jesus stopped and rested. Jesus took time to recharge and I do, too. But that isn’t what others see. I love the message translation of those lines from the book of Matthew. Well, it’s time for another task filled day and that is ok because one of those items on my to do list is an hour at the library learning to tat lace- a daunting project for me as I am not known for my creative talents in the crafts area.
Mary this post hit home like a baseball bat hitting the ball for me…..
I don’t know whether I should giggle and laugh these days at the “that’s all” or whether I simply want to sit in silence and quietly cry…. Thank you for reminding me that I am not alone, that God has my back, and that is actually is ok to introvert, to stop, to rest, to delegate and to just slowwwww down.
I hear YOUR busy; I’m supporting you in prayer xxx
Mary in life we all face things in our lives that make life hard. You say why me why is my life hard I can’t explain it. You think the person across from where you live or this person has a rosie life when your life seems to be hard you can’t explain it. You say but why do they seem to have it easy and I have it hard. We don’t know what they are going through that person across the road where you live or that person or the person we think has as Rosie life when your going through turmoil. That person you think has the easy life they could also be going through turmoil too. But they choose to not show it or let it get the better of them. They pray about it and stand on the promises in God’s word. There turmoil is every bit a bad as yours. You say why do they have it easy. You shouldn’t think they do when you probably do know anything about what they are going through. All they done is stopped and prayed and handed it over to God. Trusted God to help them get through what they are going through. But to often we panic say why me why is life so hard for me. You can’t explain how why it hard. But you have to pray about it to God and stand on the promises in his word. Trust God he will bring you through this that your going through. So as you will see the end of the bend in your life and the path straight again. Untill then we have to keep trusting God and trusting God will help us work it out. But not in our way but God’s which is best for us. If you’re like me not good at waiting you expect the answers now. But through this God teaches you patience and to trust him that he knows best. In the end we will see God’s way ways best how true that is. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland xx
Dear Mary……As your words go on and I read them with tears in my eyes, I think, “My gosh, Mary is telling me MY story. ” It is exactly what I am going through right now and I have no one. I am also 77 years old, and I think if all this happened to me back in my 30’s and 40’s, I would have been able to handle this massive “to do” list much easier and without so much worrying and being so emotional, but to be honest, the problems that I am facing and have been for the last 6 years are not easy and while I pray so often and tell the Lord and Jesus my situation and have asked if I could lay them at Their feet for help. Of course They said Yes. I am so weary as I get older and try to find time to stop and rest for a time. I really need to recharge, but at my age, it seems to take so much longer. I live in a facility with over 100 residents and I am usually the one with the smile and trying to help them deal with their problems. I believe I have taken on too much, but I can’t let these people older than me down as their ages go up into the 100’s. No one know the troubles I’ve seen, Nobody knows but Jesus. It reminds me about a very long ago song. I am trying my best, but I think I am failing. My 35 year job that I had was to help people with kindness and really listen to them and they were mostly in their early 20’s and they knew they could count on me to help or give them some advice. The things I am facing are very important and have to be taken care of right away. I don’t know how I will do this, but I know the Lord will show me the way. Thank you, Mary. Your devotionals are always so well written and help those of us that are struggling……I will read and reread your words and I am certain that they will give me the wisdom to do what needs to be done. I send my love to you and your family and prayers that you will continue to send us devotions from time to time…………………………….Betsy Basile
Mary,
Thank you for your devotion today. Matthew 11:28-30 is one of my favorite verses… I just love the phrase “unforced rhythms of grace.”
Sending you spring joy,
Lisa
Mary, Mary, Mary, you read my mail in this one. I get the “it’s not your responsibility, you take on too much, you need time for yourself.” Some of which might be true, however things have to be done and people have to be cared for. I do feel very much overwhelmed and can’t take a break because there are children involved. I do so appreciate your understanding and your words of
wisdom. A very timely word for the season I am in. Thank you and thank God Who helped me to see that He sees me.