Exhaustion of the Soul
January 26, 2025 — Laura House
My mom had a special sense of humor that I enjoyed on a daily basis. There was just something about hearing her voice or even seeing her chat pop up that made me feel loved and encouraged. Although she suffered in many ways during her lifetime, she always depended on the Lord to carry her through. Mom didn’t wear her suffering on her sleeve, but I wanted to know, and I often asked her to share how she was really feeling.
She used to refer to the awful things that happen to all of us as “earthly life.” One day, in response to something I asked in a chat message, she replied “E.L.”, instead of writing it out. That became our new mantra.
Hopefully you have experienced joy, purpose, and fulfillment in your earthly life. If you look around you, there is so much beauty to be found and so much goodness to be grateful for. But as I think about E.L., there is also so much truth in that phrase. Ever since the fall in the Garden of Eden, terrible things can happen down here — disease, poverty, disasters, broken relationships, all kinds of suffering, and death. As you know, it won’t be like this forever, but until Jesus returns, we can and will experience these things.
If you’ve not yet experienced E.L., I assure you that you will. It is simply part of being human — and when you are in the thick of it, it’s exhausting.
Let’s define the word, “exhausted.” Although there are many dictionaries out there, I’m a fan of Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary. In his dictionary, he traces the roots of words in twenty-six languages. Brilliantly, the usage examples are from classical literature and the Bible, helping the reader define words biblically, and strengthening thinking and reasoning skills, while reinforcing a biblical worldview. Webster defines “exhausted” as “drawn out; drained off; emptied by drawing, draining or evaporation; wholly used or expended; consumed.” When we lose a child or someone dear or we are experiencing another type of intense suffering, that definition explains it well. We are “wholly expended”, empty, consumed.
I want to challenge you today that there is only one place to turn when you are in this place; only One who can relieve the deepest exhaustion of the soul.
For just a moment, let’s explore Matthew 11: 28 in terms of a solution. Jesus invites us, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.“
In this verse, Jesus was speaking to a crowd who desperately tried to find God, but to the Jews, their religion was one of endless man-made rules and regulations. They were exhausted. Jesus called them from their struggling and their heavy burdens to come to Him and He would give them rest. Is that you? I know it describes me in several instances of my life.
Rest. The word sounds peace-filled, like being at the ocean on a sunny warm day, when nothing can overtake the gentle crashing of the waves that calms my mind. Interestingly, Webster has seventeen definitions for the noun, rest, and multiple examples from the Bible. The dictionary is really a wonderful study tool. Rest is what I want and what my soul needs.
Continuing in verses 29-30, Jesus invites, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
If you’ve seen oxen work, then you have likely noticed that the yoke is fitted specifically for them. And when the yoke is customized for each animal, the burdens they carry are not difficult. Jesus tells us that when we take His yoke on us, it is “easy” and light, and we will find rest.
When we decide to trust Jesus and allow Him to lead us, we will find rest. He loves us and will tenderly care for us through all of the E.L. that we encounter. We can trust Him.
