by Pastor Rich Carlson          

Here is an absolute in God's word: If I am tired and weary—overwhelmed by the challenges of life—and if I come to Him, He will give me rest. That's quite a promise.

If I am physically tired, I can keep pushing myself until I drop, or I can choose to lie down on my bed. All I have to do is lie down, the rest comes naturally after that.

I think that may be the way it is with Jesus, too. When I feel spiritually exhausted, or as the text for today says, "weary and burdened," I can either keep trying on my own until I crash or give up, or I can "come to Jesus."  I can say, "God, I am tired." The promise is that I will receive rest.   

Here's my grandpa trick and a spiritual application. (You had to know I couldn't keep quiet about my grandkids forever!) When I see those little munchkins looking tired and fighting naps or bedtime, I can force them to go to bed and punish them if they don't. But that wouldn't be very "grandparenty" now, would it? Instead, I do several things because they are so special to me and I love them so much.

Instead of playing with them and getting them all wound up, I tell them to "come to Grandpa," and with the slightest evidence of their approach, I pick them up in my arms and hold them close. I kiss them and tell them how much Grandpa loves them. Then I let them choose a book and we have "quiet time." I read for a while, and then I sing them my grandpa songs: "Grace is Grandpa's little girl . . .  and he loves her so" (don't expect me to sing it to you any time soon—it's only for my grandkids). The best part is when the grandkid of the moment just allows it to happen. She lays her head on my shoulder; she closes her eyes. The rest comes naturally because the desires of the grandpa take over.   

I learn a lot about God by being a grandpa. When He sees me looking tired, He does not force me to stop and rest. He says, "Come here, my son." At the slightest evidence of my approach, He responds. He picks me up and tells me how much He loves me. We read from His word; it doesn't matter from where. He brings hymns and spiritual songs to my heart and I sing with Him. If I let myself just relax in His goodness and His love, and trust in His promises and the safety of His arms, the rest comes naturally. I let God do what He wants to do for me, and He gives me rest.  

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. "God is Faithful" is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.