Several weeks ago I sat in a beautiful chapel that overlooked a forest in north Georgia. The grey clouds, an aftermath of Hurricane Helene, were hanging low and the wind which had only hours prior ripped through that area, had calmed to a gentle breeze.
I sighed deeply as I sat in the silence.
I am just really tired, I thought to myself when the retreat guide asked the room full of retreat goers to consider what grace we desired for the silent weekend with God we were entering into. I just need to be fed, I prayed quietly to myself and to my Father who knew to the depths of my soul, how wrung out and dry my spirit was.
It’s a powerful thing to name where we are with God, and ask for the grace of His love to meet us where we are—and not in the projection of where we wish we were.
The prayer I’m offering to you today is one for when your body, mind, soul, and spirit are just too tired. For the days when the sun greets you with bags under your eyes and when the moon shines its face as your head hits the pillow even more exhausted—this prayer is for you.
May this prayer invite you to be cared for and fed by the presence of Jesus. May you feel His nourishment deep in your bones as you gently rest in His arms.
This audio prayer today is from the book “Feel - A Collection of Liturgies Offering Hope for Every Complicated Emotion” by
. This book is a beautiful invitation to sit in various emotions that surface in our lives, name them, and look for the presence of God weaving and working within them.A Liturgy for When I Feel Tired
Breathe in—Jesus, help me…
Breath out—find my rest in You.
///
God, I come to You bearing my soul.
I feel tired. I feel it in my body. I’ve known this feeling in my story.
I need Your gentleness now because I am prone to push and punish myself.
I need Your kindness because many voices crowd my mind.
I need Your hospitality because I have a hard time welcoming myself with all of my needs.
///
God, I come to You.
You invite me to lay down my load.
One by one, I do.
///
I lay down my people.
I lay down my tasks.
I lay down my responsibilities.
I lay down my pride.
I lay down my time.
I lay down my results.
I lay down my fears.
I lay down all the possibilities.
I lay dow my expectations.
I lay down my tidiness.
I lay down my rights.
I lie down
God help me rest.
///
I am not just one of the flock.
I am Your sheep.
One whom You know by name.
One whom You have called beloved.
One whom You’ve blessed with breath.
///
I come.
I exhale.
I rest.
///
I allow myself to be received like a sheet to its shepherd.
I fall limp over Your shoulders.
I lay all of my and all of my burdens onto Your back and trust that You will not let the enemy strike me down.
///
You are patient.
You are kind.
You are good.
You are gentle.
You are peace.
You are humble.
///
As I come, I let You love me.
As I come, I let You carry me.
I come into Your heart that is unhurried, unbothered, unafraid.
///
I come with my tears.
I come with my loss.
I come with my pain.
I come with my sorrow.
I come into Your rest.
Amen.
Substack always offers their writers the option to open up for paid subscriptions. I know many writers on this platform offer this to their subscribers, but for me, I hope to always keep what I offer here in this space free of charge. My husband and I serve in support-based missions work in diaspora ministry, specifically in refugee care. If you want to support my writing—you could give a one-time or recurring donation to our ministry and that would be a huge blessing.
Share this post