Encouragement for the Weary

Feeling weary, overwhelmed, or just plain exhausted? 

You're not alone. 

Join us as we explore Jesus's powerful invitation from Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Now, let's be clear - this isn't just another pep talk about pushing through tough times. 

We dive into the radical nature of Christ's invitation—how He welcomes us exactly as we are, not as we think we should be. 

While the world keeps telling us to hustle harder and stay strong, Jesus offers something completely different: genuine rest for your soul.

We also focus on the beautiful truth that God doesn't wait for us to get our act together before drawing near. He came for us "while we were still sinners," meeting us in our brokenness, addictions, and struggles. 

If you're feeling like you're barely hanging on, this message reminds you don't have to figure everything out or pretend you're okay when you're not. 

Instead, we invite you to breathe deep, be honest with God about where you are, and let Him meet you there.

You are deeply loved by the One who never grows weary.

Let us know what you think - send us a text here!!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Oh, we're so glad you found the Encouraging 5-Minute
Podcast here to encourage you inthe next five minutes.
Kind of inspire you, maybe liftyour day.
Sharing some thoughts.
My name is Eric.
This is my friend Heather Hi,and if you need more
encouragement at the end of thefive minutes, you can always
listen to Virginia's Home forEncouragement, wper.
If you're outside the Virginiaarea where that station

(00:26):
broadcasts, then you candownload the WPER app or you can
do both.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, or you can listen on your smart speaker too
.
We're not big sticklers, nope.
But we don't know where you areright now.
Either Maybe you're in your car, maybe you're at home, or maybe
you're just sitting somewheretrying to catch your breath.
So, no matter where you are, ifyou're feeling weary,
emotionally drained, spirituallytired, just plain physically

(00:51):
worn out, or maybe a combinationof all three we want you to
know that you are not alone.

Speaker 1 (00:58):
Jesus said something powerful in Matthew 11, verse 28
, come to me all you who areweary and burdened, and I will
give you rest.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
Okay.
So did you hear that?
He didn't say those of you whohave everything together?
He didn't say those of you whofit a certain stereotype, not
like ooh, hey, if you're areally good person, all all who
are weary, come to me and I willgive you rest.
That promise isn't just forlike strong people or successful
people, or even super spiritualpeople.

(01:29):
It's for tired people,discouraged people, the ones who
feel like they've been runningon empty for way, way, way too
long.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
That's what.
If you've been trying to holdeverything together job, your
relationships, your faith andyou feel like you're one step
away from crumbling, I get it,we know that feeling.
But here's the truth.
You don't have to carry it allon your own.
Jesus doesn't say fix yourselfand then you come to me.
He simply says come, bring yourmess, your doubts,

(01:59):
disappointments and your pain.
Bring all of it.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
He's not afraid of any of it.
No, because he didn't go to thecross for the person that you
want to be.
His word tells us that he diedwhile we were still yet sinners,
while we were still addicted,while we were still broken,
while we were still struggling,while we were still knee deep in
our mess.

Speaker 1 (02:19):
You know, the world tells us to hustle, to work
harder, to push through thetough times, stay strong.
But Jesus says the exactopposite.
He invites us to rest in hisgrace, to trust that he's enough
, especially when we feel likewe're not.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
Psalm 34, 18 actually says the Lord is close to the
brokenhearted and saves thosewho are crushed in spirit.
Maybe that's you right now,broken hearted, crushed.
Well, honey, he's closer thanyou think.
So today, breathe deep, becauseyou don't have to figure

(02:57):
everything out, you certainlydon't have to have it all
together.
Let go, I mean, even if it'sjust for a moment.
Let go and let him hold you.

Speaker 1 (03:02):
Be honest with God.
He isn't afraid of your wordsor your feelings, your emotions.
You can be honest with himabout anything and everything,
especially if you feel likeyou've just lost hope.
But know this hope isn't gone.
God's not done with your story.
There's still beauty ahead,still healing, still some joy.
Jesus offers more than justsurvival, just getting along.

(03:25):
He offers life, full andabundant, even in the middle of
the hard stuff.

Speaker 2 (03:30):
Yeah.
So let him meet you right there, right here, right now, just as
you are in this moment weary,exhausted, low on hope, maybe
even low on faith.
Well, tell him that, tell Jesusthat you're low on your faith,
and let him meet you where youare, because he can not only
restore your faith, but he cangive you the rest that you need,
whether it's mental, physicalor spiritual.

(03:52):
Ask him to comfort you and showyou that he's with you, and
then just let him.

Speaker 1 (03:58):
Yeah, trust that, because we've all been there, we
know Well.
Thank you for sharing these fewminutes with us here.
If this has encouraged you inany way, would you pass it on to
someone else who might need aword of hope today?
And then remember you aredeeply loved by the one who
never grows weary, never, neverforget that God is holding you

(04:20):
close and if he feels far, justask him to make himself known to
you so that you can feel hispresence.

Speaker 2 (04:28):
Thanks for letting us hang out with you for five
minutes.
If this is encouraged, youshare it with someone that you
know could use a littleencouragement.
If you're looking for moreencouragement, you can always
tune in to WPER, virginia's homefor encouragement.
Maybe you would like the WPERapp, because you could take that
hope and encouragement with youanywhere you go.
You can find a secure downloadlink at WPERorg.