Devotionals

Are You Weary?

by Tammy Ortung 
10/04/24
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I crawled out of bed, old age seeping through my joints, a reminder that my days are numbered. Some mornings it takes a good hour to feel normal—or whatever passes for normal these days. I smile when I enter the kitchen, so grateful to have power and the ability to make a fresh pot of coffee. We were some of the lucky ones.

Last week Hurricane Helene decimated parts of the southeast, leaving millions of people without power, potable drinking water, and unable to communicate with family members. As we drove around the day after the storm, we were shocked at the number of downed trees in every direction. Mature trees that had spread their roots for over a hundred years, downed in an instant. Pictures of landslides and rumors of flooding that stole at least ninety-five lives, and devastated buildings/homes. Schools and businesses closed. The worst storm to hit the U.S. since Katrina.

I find myself grateful to have restored power when so many others do not. Yet with each passing day, I become more and more weary of not having access to information. Everything I know about the storm, or what is happening in the world, is secondhand from those with Internet or #data. Then I think about all those displaced people, families who lost loved ones, and those without access a hot shower—and I feel selfish, guilty, and just plain weary. Maybe you can relate.

That is why, the passage I read this morning resonated with me.

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11: 28 NLT)

It reminds us that no matter our circumstances, big or small, Jesus is there to help us in our weariness. He is our strength when we are weak—our comfort in the storm. Let’s lean into Him during these moments. We can trust that He is in control. Even when things don’t make sense, He always has a plan.